A long-awaited Home Bargains store has been given the green light to open later this year after renovation works were approved by council officers.

The highly anticipated arrival of the chain in the former Morrisons store in Faversham will see it compete with rival discount shop Poundland following its recent move into the town.

Bosses at Home Bargains revealed plans to change the 1,709sq m retail space – by expanding the entrance area and installing a new shop front – back in November, a move which has been deemed acceptable by Swale Borough Council.

There will now also be a complete resurfacing of the car park and the installation of new cycle parking and 16 electric vehicle charging points ahead of the store’s launch.

The company has now confirmed the branch will open in November.

With Home Bargains moving to the town, shoppers have welcomed the latest arrival after sadness at the loss of Morrisons supermarket.

Nearby resident Lesley Seager, commenting on the council’s planning portal on the now-approved application, said: “I for one can not wait for this store to get planning approved and open. It will inject some fresh life into Faversham and also help with people who can not travel out of town.

“I know many people say shop local but most can't afford to when some retailers charge nearly £5 a loaf and £9 for a bar of soap, this discount store is needed to help those who are not so well off.”

However, some concerns have been raised regarding light pollution for the neighbouring homes in West Street.

The council has not put forward any conditions to the new store’s occupiers about how it should look to tackle those concerns.

But one of the conditions surrounding the approval of the renovation of the site is to ensure members of the public can continue to use the car park as a cut-through between Flood Lane and West Street.

The new owners of the site previously came under fire after closing a gate which had been open since the building was put up in the 1990s – forcing walkers to take a lengthy, muddy detour to cross that part of town.

The path is most frequently used by residents of all ages, including some in their 90s, from North Preston walking into town and parents taking their children to and from Davington Primary School.

It was confirmed last July the Morrisons superstore in North Lane would bring down the shutters for good and close up in September 2023, shocking many members of the community.

The company blamed the store’s closure on unsustainable economic performance as it sought to consolidate its assets.

Despite this, Morrisons confirmed staff at the Faversham branch who requested redeployment were found alternative roles within the company.

An email from Morrisons bosses, seen by KentOnline in September last year, revealed plans were in place to sell the site to the business.

And workers took to strip the interior, where wires could be seen hanging from the ceiling above an almost empty floor.

There had been hopes of opening the store before the new year, but delays in acquiring necessary permissions have pushed this back.

Home Bargains has more than 500 sites around the UK and is growing rapidly since it first opened in Merseyside 47 years ago.

There are currently 10 in Kent with nearby Sittingbourne, Canterbury and Whitstable all offering customers what the company calls “top brands, bottom prices”.

A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: ““We are really excited to be opening our first store in Faversham.

“The store is due to open in November and as well as offering our fantastic top brands at bottom prices across household and food ranges, will also have an instore bakery as well as a large chilled and frozen range.

“This new store will create in excess of 50 new colleague vacancies, these will be recruited from the local community where possible. All vacancies will be advertised on our careers website once we begin the recruitment process.”