Northern Ireland fit-out specialist Portview has recently completed a brand new Lakeland store in Chester.

The kitchen and homeware outlet needed to relocate to bigger premises in the city centre and Belfast-based Portview Fit-out were called on to do the job.

The new brighter Northgate Street Lakeland store, which has a 5,000 sq ft sales area, opened earlier this month replacing a previous outlet nearby.

This is the fifth Lakeland store to be fitted out by Portview this year with a sixth outlet in Birmingham due to be handed over in the next week.

The team at Portview spent 15 weeks on the project, which began in July, stripping out the two-and-a-half storey space in the the old building which had previously been a Millets store. They were also responsible for the electrical and mechanical work, new ceilings, walls and floors, structural work for the provision of lifts, installation of new counters, lighting, painting and decorating.

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Working on an old building presented the Portview team with some challenges, though, and they had to leave the site twice while specialists removed asbestos. Meanwhile, some sections of the floor destroyed by woodworm needed to be replaced during the job.

Portview Project Manager Paul McGovern said: "Everything had to be stripped back to the shell in this building, in preparation for the addition of a new finish. When asbestos was discovered at the site we had to employ specialists to remove it, and make the building safe. We installed new walls, ceiling and floors to the Lakeland store as well as new fixtures and fittings. The shop's interior also had to be decorated inside, while painting work was done to exterior of the Georgian building. As it is a listed property we had to seek approval from a local historical society before beginning any work."

Despite the challenges of fitting out a period building to resemble a modern retail outlet, Lakeland is said to be delighted with Portview's work and the finished product - a bright new store is open for business.

Paul added: "We have an excellent working relationship with Lakeland which is why Portview has enjoyed so much repeat business from the retailer. This year alone we have successfully completed five other Lakeland outlets with a sixth due to be handed over next week."