Two national chains today confirmed opening dates on Stafford retail parks.

Family clothing chain Peacocks is due to open a new store in Stafford next week, bringing 17 jobs to the area.

And fast food chain KFC announced its new drive-thru premises will be ready in the autumn at the Hough Retail Park.

Peacocks will open its doors next Thursday, a week ahead of schedule as part of a complex of shops on the old B&Q site at Queens Retail Park, Queensville, which will include a new Next superstore.

Peacocks is housed in a two-storey 6,968sq ft unit next to the existing Instores shop.

Work on the new fashion store started in mid-June and has finished quicker than anticipated, hence the early opening date. Company spokeswoman Helen Croft said: “While some retailers are being forced to close or sell off stores, Peacocks continues to grow.

“By next April, we will have opened 30 new stores across the country since last April, including the Stafford shop. The new store will be bringing 17 new jobs to the town.”

The new Stafford store manager Emily Johnson said: “We are really excited to be opening a Peacocks store in the Queens Retail Park. Lots of new stores have already opened on the site so it’s great to be part of the new shopping experience.”

The old B&Q store on the retail park was demolished to make way for the new development which has provided five new units. It will include a 9,500 sq ft Next store, which is due to open on September 4 and has created 60 jobs.

Meanwhile the new branch of the KFC is set to create 25 new full-time jobs when it opens in late November and will be the town’s first drive-thru KFC restaurant. It will be located in Hough Retail Park, which has been built on the former site of engineering giant LGC.

A KFC spokesman said: “We look forward to opening this new restaurant which will offer the convenience of a drive-through facility.” 

The restaurant has been created as part of the second phase of developments on the site. A two-storey Frankie & Bennys has already opened, while Pizza Hut and Travelodge are also set to start trading before the end of the year.