Inverness’s new Homes Bargains store: Work appears to be progressing on former Wickes DIY site on the Highland capital’s Longman estate
Work on a new Home Bargains store in Inverness appears to be progressing after recent movement on the site and planning permission for its shopfront branding.
The major UK chain, which already operates one store in Inverness in the Rose Street Retail Park, secured planning permission in December to convert the former Wickes DIY outlet in the Longman into a second shop in the city.
Conversion and fitting out work now appears to be under way, after passers-by spotted new paintwork on the shop front, a large hole in the car park where a new totem sign will be erected, and workers popping in and out of the building.
The retailer also secured planning permission for large new Home Bargains-branded signs on the building on August 1. This included permission for a large totem sign in a corner of the car park where the large hole has recently been dug - presumably in preparation for the totem’s foundations.
It is not yet known when the store, which is expected to create up to 60 jobs, might open.
However, the new store is part of a wider ongoing expansion drive in the region for Home Bargains.
As well as the former Wickes in Henderson Road, the retailer secured separate planning permission for a third Inverness site over in the Stratton area - this time a purpose-built £5m store that is predicted to create up to 40 posts.
This followed other recent expansion efforts, such as the opening of a purpose-built Home Bargains store in Dingwall in October last year.
Home Bargains has been approached for comment.
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