Home Bargains is planning to create at least 50 jobs by opening a third store in Dundee.
It wants to take over the former Comet electrical goods store at Kingsway East to add to its outlet in the Wellgate Centre and its soon-to-open premises at the Stack in Lochee.
The development depends on persuading the city council to change the rules governing what can be sold at the unit, which ban sales of food, confectionery, toys, clothing and footwear.
The retail park’s current owners Legal & General said: “There is no reasonable prospect of this vacant floorspace being re-let in the foreseeable future if the current goods restrictions continue to rigidly apply.
“Kingsway East Retail Park suffers from long-term vacancies and lack of investment. Potential tenants that would comply with the current goods restrictions have typically preferred to locate at the much larger and more successful Kingsway West Retail Park, where greater flexibility in goods ranges has also been permitted.”
Home Bargains expects its food sales turnover would be about £1 million a year, compared to an estimated £45m in sales of convenience goods at the nearby Asda store.
“The relatively small floorspace and range of food goods in the proposed Home Bargains store will not have a significant effect on food shopping patterns,” Legal & General said.
Home Bargains is owned by TJ Morris. Its operations director, Joe Morris, said it had agreed a 15-year lease for the premises provided it was allowed to sell its full range of goods.
The company already employs more than 50 people at its Wellgate Centre store and expects to employ a similar number at the Stack.
“We are therefore a major investor and employer in Dundee and our intention to open a third store at Kingsway East Retail Park represents a further £500,000 investment by TJ Morris in the city, creating a further 50-60 jobs,” he said.
“We believe that our store at Kingsway East will bring significant benefits in terms of job creation, consumer choice and competition.
“We will also bring a vacant unit back into use, thereby improving the shopping environment.”