Home Bargains is mounting a multi-million pound development bid for a prominent Arbroath ‘store wars’ site.
The discount retailer is behind a £15 million project which could bring 50 jobs to Elliot beside the A92 Dundee road.
Angus councillors approved a controversial retail park on the one time Metal Box factory site in 2019.
But it was never progressed.
And now the discount chain’s owner T J Morris has lodged a proposal of application notice (PAN) with Angus Council for a retail development and drive thru.
The site is adjacent to the town’s Westway retail park.
It already includes Asda, Halfords, McDonalds and KFC.
A website detailing the proposal is to launch early in 2022.
And the applicants plan a live community web consultation on January 12.
A Home Bargains spokesman said: “This marks an exciting time as Home Bargains bring forward plans for our new store at Elliot Industrial Estate on Dundee Road.
“Angus is a key area of growth for Home Bargains. We are delighted to be able to present our plans to the local community.
“We anticipate the store will create up to 50 new jobs and involve substantial overall investment exceeding £15m.”
“The new store will offer a range of products including homewares, health and beauty essentials, sweets, snacks and drinks, as well as fresh and frozen food.
“While it is disappointing that the plans cannot be presented at a public exhibition, given the current restrictions, we welcome the opportunity to receive questions and feedback from local residents, as well as other interested parties, through the online consultation which will take place early in the new year via the bespoke project website.”
Former factory
Latterly the base of Presentation Products, the site was cleared in 2017.
In October 2019, Angus councillors rejected the refusal recommendation of planning officials to vote overwhelmingly in favour of a retail park there.
B&M, Burger King, Costa and Iceland had said they would be coming to the town.
But officers warned against the loss of employment land and the potential impact on the town centre.
High Street shops said they feared the heart of Arbroath would become a ghost town.
TJ Morris has now taken over the site.
The PAN application starts a 12-week pre-application consultation.
Detailed plans for the development will then be submitted.
Home Bargains has Angus stores in Academy Street, Forfar; Abbeygate, Arbroath and Brechin Road, Montrose.
The chain was founded in 1976 in Liverpool as Home and Bargain.
It currently has over 550 stores with an ambition to grow to 1,000 outlets employing 40,000 people.