A MAJOR retailer is hoping to move into a purpose-built store in Weston.

Blackrock UK Property Fund has asked North Somerset Council for planning permission to build a shop at Flowerdown Retail Park off Herluin Way, with Carphone Warehouse likely to be the new tenants.

A Blackrock spokesman said it did not want to build a new store in the High Street.

He said: “Locating the new store in the town centre would only duplicate existing provision and would not meet the identified demand for a store which can reach new customers.

“Instead of being complementary, it would be a direct competitor and bring the viability of one or both stores into question.

“It would most likely lead to the closure of whichever store proved to be the weakest.”

If approved, it will stand adjacent to Costa Coffee and Frankie and Benny’s, both of which opened last summer.

The American diner however faced some struggles to get planning permission and was only successful on appeal.

North Somerset Council officers were originally against the idea because they feared it would lead to less people visiting Weston town centre.

The retail park, which currently houses Sports Direct, Aldi, B&Q amongst others, has 408 parking spaces, although 13 would be lost in building the new shop.