JJB Oxford Street flagship in doubt following review

JJB Sports is understood to have abandoned plans to open one of its largest stores to date on London's Oxford Street, following a strategy review.

The retailer, which last week announced that chairman David Whelan had given up plans to take the business private, is thought to want to surrender the lease it signed for the former C&A store near Oxford Circus.

JJB's apparent change of heart will leave it with only one store on the street, at the Plaza development. A second shop, near the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street, is being taken over by fashion retailer River Island for a new flagship.

Andrew Vaughan, of property company Redevco which owns the premises, confirmed other retailers are now looking at the site. 'Nothing at the moment has been agreed, but we are in discussions with other retailers,' he said.

According to property sources, two fashion retailers are understood to be looking at splitting the 35,000 sq ft (3,250 sq m) site between them.