Shona Gossip
Budget chain Home Bargains has revealed plans to open another store in Aberdeenshire.
The company has snapped up one of the units at Westhill Shopping Centre, which is currently being expanded.
There are already stores in Inverurie, Aberdeen, Peterhead and Elgin.
Orchard Street Investment Management, which manages the shopping centre on behalf of owners St James’s Place Property Unit Trust, announced the deal yesterday.
Town and Country Veterinary Group has also taken a space and will relocate from its existing practice in the centre.
Home Bargains has signed a 15-year lease for a 10,000 sq ft unit.
However, a spokeswoman for the retailer was unable to say how many jobs would be created in the move, or provide any further details about the deal.
Councillors approved the shopping centre expansion last year, after referring it to a design panel amid concerns it would appear unwelcoming at the entrance to Westhill.
The panel made several recommendations to make the shopping centre a “community focus” for residents, which the developers adopted.
Work on the expansion – which is hoped will bring a better variety of shops to the growing town – began last month, and is expected to be finished by the spring.
Michael Cecil, from Orchard Street, said: “There has been a great deal of work to get the project to this stage and we are grateful to the local community for their invaluable input during the planning process.
“We are delighted to have begun construction on site and look forward to delivering an improved retail offering and experience for our customers.”
As well as the new development, the customer car park will be reconfigured and the access from Westhill Drive improved.