A NEW Home Bargains superstore is set to open in October.

Middlebrook Retail Park will welcome the discount chain into the former Homebase unit later this year.

The new store, one of the largest in the North West, was announced at the end of last year, and had hoped to open earlier in the year.

Delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the opening, but a date of Saturday, October 10, has now been confirmed.

Mark Hanna, senior retail leasing surveyor at Orbit Developments, believes Middlebrook is the perfect spot for Home Bargains.

Speaking when the move was announced, he said: “Middlebrook shoppers have been asking us for a retailer like Home Bargains on the park so we’re delighted for this new store.

“They join a great selection of other successful retail brands at Middlebrook, establishing the Park as a great destination for local shoppers.

“Home Bargains' popularity is sure to add further footfall to the benefit of everyone at Middlebrook. We wish them well.”

The Middlebrook site will be the sixth shop in the borough for the discount chain, and could create up to 80 new jobs for full and part-time staff.

It will join outlets in Newport Street, Bolton Shopping Park off Trinity Way, Burnden Park, Bury Road, Breightmet; and Market Street, Farnworth.

Located near to the park’s entrance, the store will fill a 33,260 sq ft site – including a conservatory and garden centre.

The unit was due to be split in 2019, after Homebase submitted plans to halve its internal space.

Unfortunately, the popular DIY store closed its doors instead, leaving the entire unit free for the new discount store.

Shoppers in Horwich will be able to join the five million people across the country visiting Home Bargains each week.

Visitors to the store can browse a range of products including homeware, health and beauty products, sweets, snacks, drinks and fresh and frozen food.

TJ Morris Ltd, which trades as Home Bargains, is one of the UK’s largest family-run retailers, with over 530 outlets across the country employing over 22,000 staff.

Applications for a part-time management role at the new Middlebrook store can be made until the start of September.

The Horwich site, which claims to be the UK’s largest retail and leisure park, includes big-name supermarkets, furniture stores, and clothing retailers such as Asda, DFS, and H&M, as well as a cinema and bowling alley.

Landlord Orbit Developments have also made two similar lettings to the discount firm at Lyme Green Retail Park in Macclesfield and at Burnley Retail Park.

Home Bargains plans to operate over 900 stores across the UK, and is opening 50 stores a year, almost one every weekend.