Pets at Home has halted plans to open a new store for the second time within the space of a month. The latest move sees the UK’s largest pet retail chain pulling out of a newly-developed Guisborough retail park, following a similar decision in Skegness last month.

The company has blamed a volatile property market for both decisions.

A spokesperson for Pets at Home told Pet Trade Xtra the retail giant was committed to future expansion, stating: “When we announced our results on 22 May we said we would open up to five superstores in the current financial year.  While we keep the details under careful review that is our plan.”

The decision to withdraw from a planned new store at Cleveland Gate Retail Park, Guisborough, was reported by the Teeside Gazette.

The newspaper stated Pets at Home had recruited staff for the new store.

Pets at Home said: “We keep our opening plans under regular review as store openings can take some time to come to fruition and both the retail environment and the property market can be volatile.

“At a recent review of our store opening plans we decided, with regret, not to progress with our plan to open a store in Guisborough.

“We appreciate that this will be disappointing to customers who were looking forward to a new store and apologise for the change in our plans.

“Colleagues who have started training with us will be offered alternative positions in one of our nearby stores.”

Similar comments were made after the decision not to open a store in Skegness in May.

The full story on the Cleveland Gate Retail Park decision can be read by clicking here