NEW jobs could to be created in Radcliffe with Dunelm Mill hoping to create a new call centre under its current town centre store.

The homeware retailer proposes to turn a basement under the shop in Green Street, currently used as a storage area, into a call centre.

A planning application to change the use of the basement was submitted to Bury Council earlier this month, with the planning committee set to make a decision by March.

The proposals include improving access to the basement by installing a new entrance door and ramp and removing a wall in the underground area to create one large room.

Dunelm Mill will gain 1,006 square metres of office space on top of the 1,006 square metres of shop space the building currently provides.

The call centre, which would deal with inbound calls only, would be an expansion of a customer contact centre already based at the Radcliffe site.

A spokesman for Dunelm Mill said: “Dunelm has recently submitted a planning application to cover the potential expansion of its current customer contact centre based on the same site as the Dunelm Radcliffe retail store.

“The scheme would involve the conversion of current warehouse space.

“The expansion is driven by the need to support the continued growth of the Dunelm Business and build on our commitment as a key employer in the Radcliffe area. Further details will be released as plans firm up.”

The spokesman said it was too early a stage for details to be divulged but hoped there would be more announcements on the new project, expansion plans and employment opportunities in the next few months.

The application was made on behalf of Dunelm’s head office by agent GL Hearn, based in Manchester. So far there have been no representations received in favour of or against the plans.