Debenhams says a local tribunal about an increase in business rates at its Swansea store could define the future of the retail brand's entire network.
The department store chain, which went into administration in April, said that the action in South Wales would serve as a test case for similar cases elsewhere in the 海角视频.
Debenhams says its rates聽bill in聽Swansea is due to rise聽by聽12%聽to聽拢1.1m.
They have lodged an appeal against the increase at the local Valuation Tribunal for Wales.
The brand warned that unless more realistic assessments are agreed,聽Debenhams is likely to聽have to close more stores, with the result that thousands more workers will lose their jobs.
Since lockdown,聽the network has already shrunk from聽142 to 124聽stores with 6,500 staff made redundant, taking the group headcount to around 12,000.
A spokesperson for Debenhams said: 鈥淭he Swansea hearing is a vital test case, with serious implications for jobs, both locally and across the 海角视频.
"The outcome will go a long way to defining the future of every one of our stores.
"Currently, we have a聽completely聽unsustainable聽situation where rents are going down, but our rates bill is going up.
"We understand the pressures on the Treasury聽but, unless common sense prevails, the end result of rates hikes聽will be further store closures and聽more聽job losses.
"We are fighting hard to save every store 鈥 and every job 鈥 we can and the outcome of the Swansea tribunal will go a long way to determining the ultimate size of the business.鈥
The date of the聽Swansea rates tribunal is to be confirmed. It is expected to take place in October.
