Garden centre chain Dobbies has announced it is shutting down 17 stories in a cost cutting move, it has revealed. The targeted outlets are ‘unprofitable’ and bosses said it was to ‘address historically uneconomical rent costs‘.

Dobbies said the restructuring plan will see it close 17 unprofitable stores in total – which includes 11 main garden centres and six Little Dobbies stores. It confirmed that 465 of its 3,600 employees impacted. The move will leave it with 60 garden centres.

The retailer said it will also work with landlords to seek temporary rent reductions at a further nine sites.

While the process is ongoing, all shops will continue to operate as normal. It also noted that there would be no impact to suppliers.

The gardening specialist expects the 17 sites to cease trading by the end of the year, subject to the restructuring plan being successfully approved.

The move comes after Dobbies began planning a financial overhaul of the business in August, which it warned would lead to rent cuts and shop closures.

The stores set to close are:

• Altrincham

• Antrim

• Gloucester

• Gosforth

• Harlestone Heath

• Huntingdon

• Inverness

• King’s Lynn

• Pennine

• Reading

• Stratford-upon-Avon