Mystery still surrounds which retail brand will occupy a major out-of-town store after planners were forced to debate an application without knowing a name.

The current B&Q site in Park Farm Industrial Estate, Folkestone, will become vacant next month as the DIY store leaves the town.

Kent Online exclusively revealed earlier this year that Marks and Spencer’s Simply Food chain was “interested” in coming to Folkestone, but a spokesman would not confirm or deny details of that particular site.

On Tuesday night at the Civic Centre in Folkestone, an application was put before members to extend the glass-fronted building to make way for another retailer and to change its use to potentially stock more products.

The application was passed despite councillors not being told who the new occupants would be.

The only thing they were told was that the store would be a new addition to the town’s retail offering.

Cllr Susie Govett (Ukip) said: “Folkestone town centre is struggling, another major out of town retailer could be yet another nail in the town centre’s coffin.

“What made this decision more difficult is the fact that we weren’t told who the new retailer is going to be.

“All we knew is that it’s not a retailer who currently has a presence in Folkestone.

'All we knew is that it’s not a retailer who currently has a presence in Folkestone.' - Cllr Susie Govett

“So that could have been anyone from Harrods to a pound shop brand.”

The meeting heard that the name was withheld because it was not for “material consideration” which meant that it did not affect the councillor’s decision making.

Cllr Govett, who represents New Romney, voted in favour for the application in a bid to safeguard jobs that the new site will bring.

The application was put forward by Glasgow-based Butler Mason Limited.

The change of use was to allow for a range of products to be sold at the premises, including electrical goods, toys, clothes, luggage and cosmetics. The new store could also sell tobacco and alcohol.

The Retail Impact Assessment document, attached to the application, said that Folkestone’s town centre and Cheriton High Street would “continue to perform adequately” and that the proposal would not cause “adverse impact” to trade diversion.

The B&Q store has had a closing down sale for the last month, but shoppers had reported it looking “cleared out” in the run up to Christmas.

The next closest B&Q branches are in Dover and Ashford.

A Shepway District Council spokesman said: “The application was submitted by a consultant who provided all of the details regarding the uses proposed, as set out in the report.

“Planning is concerned with use, rather than specific occupier.

“However the report to committee set out a number of conditions to control the future use, including a no poaching condition to ensure that the occupier of the store will not be an existing store relocating from Folkestone town centre, as such a relocation would cause harm to the vitality and viability of the town centre.”