RETAIL giant Next is planning to open a new £12 million superstore at the Middlebrook.

The firm is proposing to close the three units it already operates at the retail park and consolidate them into a huge 2,731 sqm flagship store.

If approved, the superstore would offer customers a wide range of clothing and products for the home and would also have an outdoor garden products section.

Next has applied to Bolton Council for permission to build the new three-storey unit on land bordered by The Linkway and Aspinall Way, next to the Homebase and Scan Computers buildings.

Next bosses have said that the new build would support 220 jobs, with staff working at the current Middlebrook sites transferred to the new base and any new positions being offered initially to local people.

Artist’s impressions of the planned building suggest a striking design, with large glass panels measuring the full 12 metres of the building, offering views inside from all angles.

Company bosses believe the plans represent a “commitment” to the Middlebrook by Next as well as to Bolton as a whole, with other stores currently open in The Market Place Shopping Centre and at the Trinity Retail Park.

If approved, the flagship Next Home and Garden store will sell traditional home and clothing goods with an expanded range of larger home goods including furniture, bathroom and kitchen, carpets, tiling, decorating, DIY and garden products.

The proposed building site is currently used for overspill parking, although there are plans for 165 parking spaces within the application.

A Next spokesman said: “The construction of a new build store at Middlebrook demonstrates Next’s confidence in the area and its long term commitment to Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park and Bolton itself — the new store is a fully funded investment in the region of £12million.

“There would be significant employment benefits to Bolton through the provision of the new store which would employ in the region of 220 staff.

“The existing employees at the Middlebrook stores would be transferred to the new store and Next will seek to recruit staff from the local area to fill as many of the additional positions as possible.”

The council's planning department will now analyse the plans, which are likely to come before the planning committee.