A MAJOR fashion store at a city retail park is set to grow after expansion plans were backed by the council.

Clothing giant Next, which currently has a homeware and furniture store at the Elgar Retail Park off Blackpole Road in Worcester, submitted plans to expand the building and start selling clothes.

The neighbouring unit, currently occupied by autocentre Halfords, would be taken over by Next as part of the expansion.

Halfords would move its store to the neighbouring Blackpole Retail Park and the existing Next store in the Elgar Retail Park would close to make way for the new one.

The expansion plans were backed unanimously by Worcester City Council’s planning committee on Thursday (October 24).

Councillor Jo Hodges, who represents Warndon, said: “It may be dated but is very well used. It’s an amenity that’s very popular within my ward and the Next unit is well used by people.

“I go up there often and there always people waiting for the doors to open. It is well used, and I think it will continue to be used in the larger space so I’m very happy with this.

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Cllr Jenny Barnes said: “Obviously we have had comings and goings, not so much on that part [of the retail park] but on the other side of the road so it’s good that there is going to be some stability."

The committee heard Next bosses had indicated the expansion of its store in the Elgar Retail Park was not at the expense of its city centre store in Cathedral Plaza, according to a letter accompanying the application, and a five-year commitment to Worcester High Street was also agreed.

Cllr Barnes said: “And also it is great news that we know Next will be in town for five years because the way things are at the moment Next could have upped sticks without anywhere else so I think it’s really good that we have got that confirmation that we have got a major player on the High Street for the next five years.”

Several plans were submitted to Worcester City Council asking for permission to change the use of part of the unit from an auto centre to retail, allowing the sale of clothes, building a mezzanine floor and making several other alterations to the layout and parking. Plans also include space for a cafe - which could be a Costa Coffee like in several other Next stores - and a stationery shop or travel agents. Council planning officers said the expansion would have minimal impact on the High Street.