Habitat may be sold to Argos owner

The home furnishings store Habitat could soon be sold to the owner of the Argos and Homebase retail chains. Home Retail Group is said to be in talks to buy the firm, which has 71 stores worldwide, including 35 in the UK.

Another unnamed company is also in the bidding for the sale.

Around 30 Habitat stores could close as part of the deal, reports suggested.

The first Habitat store was opened in 1964 in London by Sir Terence Conran, his then wife, Caroline, and the model Pagan Taylor.