Harvey Norman will open its second UK store and country headquarters in 2026 at Gracechurch near Birmingham.
Harvey Norman opened its first store in the UK last year at Merry Hill in the West Midlands and the second 5,000 square metre site at Gracechurch is located approximately 30 minutes away at The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield.
Appliance Retailer exclusively revealed the location of the new Gracechurch store in October 2024 while attending the opening of the Merry Hill store.
A statement issued by property developer SAV Group has confirmed a 20-year lease at Gracechurch signed by Harvey Norman to house a new store and the company’s UK headquarters.
Harvey Norman UK managing director, Lachlan Roach said he is excited about the expansion.
“Expanding into Gracechurch, Royal Sutton Coldfield, is a significant step in our UK growth strategy,” Roach said.
“This location provides the perfect setting to showcase our diverse product range while delivering the world-class service for which Harvey Norman is renowned. The West Midlands is a thriving community, and we are excited to contribute to its retail landscape by offering a premium selection of electronics, technology, and furniture. We believe in the potential of Gracechurch and look forward to working with the SAV and BPG teams to bring our vision to life,” Roach said.
Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey has flagged previously that there will be three stores opened in the West Midlands area.
Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page has previously identified the West Midlands as the ideal location for the retailer to launch into the UK market.
“The opportunities in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands were simply too strong to pass up. As a key region for the UK economy, the West Midlands aligns perfectly with our vision and priorities,” Page said in late 2024.
With its new store at Gracechurch, Harvey Norman will take over premises that have been vacant since the closure of British Home Stores (BHS) in 2016 and represent one of the largest retail spaces within the 550,000 square foot site. Gracechurch was acquired at the end of 2023 by new owners – London-based developer SAV Group, in partnership with BPG – who have worked hard to revitalise the shopping centre over the past year, with the arrival of 20 new stores and businesses in just over 12 months and footfall outpacing national trends.
SAV Group founder Alex Tarlo, said the decision by Harvey Norman is expected to create up to 100 jobs across sales, marketing, online, finance, procurement, operations, warehousing and more, along with several apprenticeship opportunities.
“It’s anticipated that the arrival of Harvey Norman will kick-start a multi-million pound refurbishment project and position Gracechurch as a leading regional retail destination, while supporting the local job market,” Tarlo said.
“The arrival of Harvey Norman marks a significant milestone in Gracechurch’s transformation and underscores our bold vision for its future. By choosing Gracechurch for their UK headquarters and latest store, Harvey Norman has demonstrated strong confidence in our strategy to position the centre as a leading regional retail destination.
“This lease also signals the start of substantial investment across the centre, aimed at further enhancing the visitor experience. We look forward to working closely with the Harvey Norman team to bring this exciting new store to life. We would like to extend our thanks to Andy Street who played a key role in helping unlock this opportunity during his tenure as Mayor of the West Midlands. We’d also like to thank Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP and Councillor Simon Ward, leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council for their ongoing support.”