Homebase has announced the opening of 18 “new and exclusive” garden centres across the UK.

The ‘Garden Centres by Homebase’ have officially opened inside The Range superstores after the DIY and garden retailer fell into administration in November last year.

The chain blamed a decline in consumer confidence and spending after the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis for its losses, but later struck a deal with retail group CDS – which owns The Range – for the sale of up to 70 stores, helping to secure around 1,600 jobs.

Announcing the collapse last year, Damian McGloughlin, chief executive of Homebase, said the last three years have been “incredibly challenging” for DIY stores, but efforts to improve performance had not been successful.

B&Q has also agreed to take control of five branches as part of the deal, taking over sites in Altrincham in Greater Manchester, Basingstoke in Hampshire, Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, and Worcester in Worcestershire.

These stores are expected to be converted into B&Q sites in the spring, but the future of around 49 Homebase stores still remains undecided.

In an update to customers on its Facebook this week, Homebase announced 18 of its garden centres inside The Range superstores are now officially open.

The retailer confirmed that three more garden centres will open to customers this Friday, followed by a further 10 in March.

Homebase said: “EXCITING NEWS! 18 brand-new & exclusive ‘Garden Centres by Homebase’ have officially opened inside The Range superstores across the UK!

“From Pollokshaws in Glasgow to Newton Abbot in Devon – and plenty more in between! More openings and exciting Homebase updates coming soon… Stay tuned!”

Listed are all of the Garden Centres by Homebase sites that are now officially open, plus the locations of store openings that will follow this Friday and in March:

Already open:

Opening on Friday, February 27:

• Eastbourne

• Morecambe

• Oxford

Opening in March:

• Bodmin

• High Wycombe

• Selby

• Nutgrove, Dublin

• Edinburgh

• Horsham

• Ruislip

• Maidenhead

• Harrogate

• Santry, Dublin