Fashion giant to open store

A Next superstore is set to open in Stafford in the latest major retail development outside the town centre.

The fashion and homeware giant is taking up part of the former B&Q unit at the Queens Retail Park, Queensville.

Its announcement comes just months after the opening of the new Hough Retail Park, in Lichfield Road, which boasts the relocated B&Q warehouse, a Comet electrical store and sofa superstore ScS.

An Argos Extra, Pizza Hut and Frankie and Benny's restaurants are all set to follow at the Hough Retail Park site.

Next will not reveal how many jobs will be created but a similar sized store, set to open in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, has generated 80 jobs. The new Stafford store is scheduled to open in August next year.

Stafford Borough Council has given Next the go-ahead to forge ahead with its plans under delegated powers.

Construction work is set to take place to split the vacated B&Q store into smaller units following the DIY chain's relocation to the nearby Hough Retail Park.

The new Next store is set to include 4,010sq ft of womenswear, 2,223sq ft of menswear, 1,706sq ft of childrenswear and 1,175sq ft of homeware. A mezzanine floor is also planned.

Lucy Taylor, Next spokeswoman, said: "Next is due to open an exciting brand new store in Stafford's Queens Retail Park in August 2008.

"This store will offer a wide range of womenswear, menswear and childrenswear and everything for the well-dressed home.

"Next is delighted to be opening the new store at the retail park which offers customers all four product ranges in a fabulous new shopping environment."

The new store will be in addition to the current Next store on Foregate Street which the company says it remains "committed to".

Gemma David, from agents CgMs acting on behalf of Next, said: "It is not Next's intention that new out-of-town centre stores should compete with established town centre locations.

"Next sees the out-of-centre concept as a valuable complementary form of retailing which allows different customer needs to be met in different locations."