Update on future of town centre store closed for months by flooding

A town centre Superdrug branch in Wiltshire has announced it will reopen over four months after major flooding.

The Superdrug store on Chippenham High Street was one of several businesses severely impacted by flooding in the town centre during Storm Bert at the end of November last year. During the storm, the River Avon overflowed its banks, flooding the High Street and inflicting considerable damage to the Superdrug store and other nearby buildings. Since then, the branch has remained closed and boarded up, raising concerns that the shop would not reopen. However, the health and beauty business has announced that the Chippenham store would reopen in early April after undergoing major renovations.

A representative for Superdrug stated, “We are delighted to announce the reopening of our Superdrug store in Chippenham at the beginning of April. “Following its closure in November 2024 due to floods, we undertook major repairs and refurbishments to provide our consumers with the greatest shopping experience possible. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back, just in time for the Easter holidays.” Superdrug is one of the final retailers on the High Street to remain closed following last year’s disastrous floods. At the time of writing, WHSmith and The British Heart Foundation charity shop remained closed due to extensive water damage. Work was clearly underway to restore both units and allow them to reopen. Other firms, including Starbucks and Tesco Express, were able to return before the end of 2024.

Many rated the Storm Bert flooding as the worst to hit Chippenham in decades. At the time, Cllr Nic Puntis, Wiltshire Council’s flood portfolio holder, stated that establishments in the bottom half of the High Street had been flooded with “a metre of water.” He continued, “I’ve never seen Chippenham flooded like that; my folks say 1968 was the last time it was that awful. “In the 1990s, we had something come in, but it wasn’t a meter of water like we’ve seen before; it was a once-in-200-year occurrence. “It’s very catastrophic for establishments; some have up to a metre of water inside. “Things have been damaged beyond use, Starbucks and Tesco’s fridges have gone, it’s huge.”