A CLOTHING retailer in Kingsteignton says it will consider potential relocation opportunities following Home Bargains’ bid to relocate to Newton Road Retail Park being given the go ahead by planners.

Matalan’s future in the area was called into question after Teignbridge District Council approved TJ Morris Limited’s - trading as Home Bargains - application for a ‘comprehensive package of works’ to Units 2 and 3 of Newton Road Retail Park, currently occupied by Pavers and Matalan respectively, to create a new, single retail unit.

Approved on October 14, the application facilitates Home Bargains’ planned relocation from Kingsteignton Retail Park to Newton Road Retail Park.

As such, speculation ran rife about what the future held for Matalan.

‘We are in discussions with our landlord regarding our Newton Abbot store, but no final decisions have been made’, a spokesperson for Matalan said.

‘We thoroughly enjoy being part of the community in Kingsteignton and in the event that the lease is not renewed, we will be evaluating potential relocation opportunities within the area’, the spokesperson added.

Home Bargains’ current store is ‘significantly undersized’ at just 1,134 square metres; the proposed amalgamated unitat NRRP, by comparison, will have a floor space in excess of 2,000 square metres.

The relocation will ‘secure the retailer in the local area, improving their retail offer alongside securing a long-term tenant of existing retail floorspace where the leases of the existing retailers is soon to expire’, the planning statement for 25/01434/FUL says.

The proposed work includes demolition of parts of the existing building(s), reconfiguration of the car park to include additional parent and child and accessible spaces, introduction of electric vehicle parking, covered cycle shelter and much more besides.

Moreover, permission is also being sought for a wider range of goods to be sold, namely food and drink products.

The planning statement says: ‘The proposals will result in the comprehensive refurbishment and long-term reoccupation of an existing retail site and will ensure its long-term occupancy, which in turn will make a positive economic contribution to the area.

‘The new Home Bargains store will retain and create over 100 jobs and will invest more than £3 million in the local economy as a result of the redevelopment works and store fit out.

‘TJM is wholly committed to fostering local employment opportunities to ensure that a significant portion of the store’s workforce comprises residents of Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton and nearby areas.

‘TJM will aim to fill the majority of available positions within the store with individuals residing within the local area’.