EXCLUSIVE: Home Bargains reveal target date for £15 million store plan set to bring 200 new Angus jobs

Home Bargains has revealed the target date for the opening of the £15 million store it hopes will bring more than 200 jobs to Angus.

The company has submitted final plans to Angus Council for Elliot Industrial Estate on Dundee Road in Arbroath.

Its 3,954 square metre store will anchor a five-unit retail park and drive-thru.

There will be parking for more than 400 cars.

And the discount retailer is aiming to be open for business by autumn 2023.

Plans emerged last year

Home Bargains owner, Liverpool-based T J Morris, first revealed plans for the one-time Metal Box factory site in late 2021.

The principle of a retail park there was set in 2019 when Angus councillors approved another developer’s application.

But it was never built.

And Home Bargains now say they are keen to get going if councillors give the green light.

A new garden centre concept will feature in the store.

Coronavirus struggle

“The Covid pandemic has, and is, still having a detrimental impact on the retail sector and the high street,” said the company.

“But Home Bargains remain fully committed to continue to invest in the local economy, create jobs and importantly provide a service for the people of Arbroath.

“We anticipate the proposals will generate around 192 full-time positions and 19 indirect jobs, as well as substantial overall investment exceeding £15 million.

“The new store will offer a range of products including homewares, health and beauty essentials, sweets, snacks and drinks, as well as fresh and frozen food.

“We are pleased to announce that we have submitted our planning application for a new store following the positive feedback received from local residents.”

August determination deadline

Angus Council has validated the application.

And it is now live on the authority’s online planning portal under planning reference 22/00288/FULM.

The local authority hopes to have a decision on the bid within four months.

It has set an internal target date of August 17 for the application, and a determination deadline of August 26.

Home Bargains hasn’t yet released details of other names which could be coming to the site.

“We’d like thank everyone who took the time to take part in our online consultation and have engaged with us throughout this process,” the firm added.

“We look forward to continuing our engagement with local community groups as we progress our plans.”

An economic impact statements predicts the completed development will pump more than £11m into the local economy annually.

And it will generate almost £1m in business rates for Angus Council each year.

Tayside expansion

The ambitious Arbroath project is just part of Home Bargains’ Tayside expansion programme.

It is recruiting staff for a new store in units nearing completion at Myrekirk in Dundee.

It is scheduled to open in August.

And the company also has plans to demolish the old Odeon cinema at the city’s Stack leisure park to build a new store there.

Elliot factory bulldozed

The Dundee Road site has lain vacant since 2017 when the former Presentation Products factory which stood on it was demolished.

In 2019, Angus councillors went against their planning officials to approve a retail park proposal there.

The plan sparked a ‘store wars’ in the town following objections from big names in the adjacent Westway retail park.

It already features prominent businesses including Asda, B&Q, Halfords, KFC and McDonalds.

And town centre businesses raised concerns over the potential impact on the vitality of Arbroath High Street.

But councillors voted in favour of the new use for the brownfield site.

However, the pandemic struck months later and the Brackenbrae Investments scheme was not taken forward.