THE Hatfield branch of furniture retailer Habitat has gone into administration, it has been announced.

The home furnishings brand was today (Friday) sold off by retail restructuring firm Hilco to Home Retail Group, which owns Argos and Homebase, for �24.5m.

The deal will see HRG retain Habitat’s three flagship London stores, as well as the rights to the eCommerce business set up last year.

The remaining 30 UK stores will be placed in administration – including Habitat on Oldings Corner, off Comet Way.

In a statement, Hilco said making the business profitable in the UK was “unlikely” as “many of the stores are expensive and poorly located for a furniture retailer.”