Home Bargains finally starts work in Highland town – and reveals planned opening date
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WORK has started on a £5million development by a rapidly expanding bargain basement retailer.
Plans for a Home Bargains on land behind St Clement’s School in Dingwall and close to the Ross-shire town's Lidl were approved by Highland Council 19 months ago on a patch of land that has been the subject of several different retail use applications down the years.
Parent company T J Morris confirmed construction work started on October 23 with a targeted store opening of autumn 2024.
At the time of the approval, Dingwall Community Council considered the development “a welcome addition” that would create jobs in town.
The discount chain, started in Liverpool, now employs 22,000 people and has over 500 stores stocking up to 4000 products ranging from health and beauty to clothing, homeware and food.
Highland Council planners said at the time the town centre site encourages shared trips to other services and businesses and noted new employment opportunities for locals.
It said it would be the development of a long-standing, vacant and brownfield site within Dingwall town centre.
The site is bounded by the Peffery, Lidl’s store, St Clement’s and Dingwall Community Centre, with residential properties and gardens to the east.
Applicant Forrest Development Limited and TJ Morris Ltd of Glasgow plans a class one retail unit of 1896sq m (20,410sq ft) gross with associated car parking, landscaping, formation of access and other ancillary works.
The proposal first mooted in June 2021 was generally welcomed at that time with the prospect of the land being brought into productive use and adding to choice for shoppers.
