Bunnings to open their first purpose built store in Ashford

Plans have been revealed for a new, purpose built Bunnings Warehouse due to open in Ashford, Kent in the Summer of 2019.

Bunnings is set to open its first purpose built and by then its fifth Kent store at a new retail park in Ashford, Kent. The developer Castle City Estates has revealed plans for a 50,000 sq ft store at Drover's Retail Park in Ashford, near junction nine of the M20, which already boasts a John Lewis Home Store which opened in November 2013.

The developer has decided to expand the site, attracting the first purpose built Bunnings Warehouse UK store, plus a drive through coffee shop, a 37,000 sq ft retail terrace of four units selling furniture and homewares and another small 2,000 sq ft retail unit.

Bunnings already operates from three other Kent locations including Broadstairs, Folkestone, Sittingbourne and it also plans to open a converted Homebase store in Herne Bay later this month.

View the Insight DIY map of all known Bunnings UK locations.

A spokesman for Castle City said: "We are proposing to develop a retail scheme selling furniture, homewares, home improvement and outside living products on the land adjacent to the John Lewis at Home by Drovers roundabout in Ashford. The new retail scheme will complement the existing John Lewis at Home offer, and provide choice for shoppers, create jobs and deliver investment."

The first mages of the site have been revealed by the developer, showing the layout of the retail park and a splendid looking, brand new Bunnings Warehouse.

We understand an application for planning consent will be submitted to Ashford Council before the end of March and if approved, construction is likely to begin early 2019, with the stores open by the Summer.

The Bunnings business in the UK and Ireland is currently part of a strategic review being carried out by their owner, the Australian Conglomerate Wesfarmers, following a steep decline in performance, leading to a loss of £97m in the six months to 31st December 2017.

In their sixth month trading update Wesfarmers stated ‘Deployment of capital will remain disciplined and subject to ongoing review of pilot store performance’.

Read - Wesfarmers profits collapse as a result of Homebase,

Source: Insight DIY Team

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