Discount retailer B&M is planning to take over the site of a Homebase store in a retail park, leaving staff facing an uncertain future.

The bargain chain plans to take control of the DIY company's outlet in Sittingbourne Retail Park to open a Home Store.

It brings fresh uncertainty for about 50 staff at the site, who survived a cull of 42 Homebase shops following the firm's disastrous takeover by Australian giant Wesfarmer three years ago.

However, before it can complete the takeover, B&M has to convince Swale council to lift a planning condition which prohibits the sale of food, clothing, toys or kitchenwear at the site.

The latest drama to affect staff at the Homebase site comes after Wesfarmer took control of the DIY chain for £340 million in 2016.

It began rebranding its stores as Bunnings, the same as its chain down under, including the one on the retail park off Mill Way.

The move was a marketing disaster and in May last year, Wesfarmer sold all former Homebase stores to venture capital company Hilco Capital for £1.

The Sittingbourne store then reclaimed its former Homebase branding.

B&M's plans for a Home Store will differ slightly from its Home Bargains store at Neats Court Retail Park on Sheppey.

The planning condition banning the sale of certain goods on the Sittingbourne site was imposed when permission for the retail park was first granted back in the 1990s.

It was aimed at safeguarding shops in the town centre, with stores on the park permitted to sell only bulky goods.

B&M is specifically seeking permission for 300sq metres of food sale floorspace, 200 sq m of toys, 50 sq m of “non-fashion” clothing, 200 sq m of kitchenwear and glass and 100sq m of toiletries.

The company argues its clothing offer will be limited to socks, underwear and dressing gowns - and so will not compete with fashion shops in the town.

It also points out that Homebase had already been selling china items at the store for some 15 years and further points out that the borough council recently granted planning permission for a Marks and Spencer food hall elsewhere on the retail park.

Under planning regulations, retailers have to pass a “sequential test” before they can open at out-of-town locations - to prove that there were no suitable sites for them within the town centre.

B&M said it had examined a number of potential sites, including at the Bell Centre in Bell Road, the former bus depot in East Street and the Spirit of Sittingbourne sites, but none had been large enough, or had sufficient parking.

The company predicts its store will create 85 full and part-time jobs.

For details, visit https://pa.midkent.gov.uk and enter application number 18/506697.