The high street fashion and homeware retailer Next has announced plans to take over a vacant unit at a retail park in Stevenage, creating 35 jobs.

Next is planning to take over the former Partyman unit at 9 Yards - formerly the Roaring Meg Retail Park - off London Road, when the lease on its existing store in The Forum ends in May next year.

The chain says the move will safeguard the 41 jobs at the current Stevenage store, with all staff transferring to the new store.

There will also be 35 additional jobs at the new store.

Next says its investment "will strengthen the local economy and the attractiveness of Stevenage’s wider retail offer", with the new store "drawing people from Welwyn and Hatfield, where there are no Next stores.

However, if planning permission for the move is not granted by Stevenage Borough Council, the retail chain has warned it will be forced to leave the town.

Before submitting a planning application, Next will shortly launch a public consultation programme to provide residents with the opportunity to give their views on the planned move.

In a letter to Stevenage Borough Council leader Richard Henry, Next estate manager Gary Robinson says: "You will appreciate that we need to plan ahead and futureproof our business so that we can keep our staff in their jobs and continue to serve the people of Stevenage.

"Moving to the Roaring Meg will enable a 'seamless' transition from our existing store, so that we can continue to offer a great service to residents.

"Our decision to move to the Roaring Meg Retail Park ensures that Next - a long-standing Stevenage retailer - remains in the town.

"Having investigated alternative sites in the town, no other sites suit our requirements.

"If our planning application for the new store at the Roaring Meg is not supported by the council, then we will have no option but to, reluctantly, leave Stevenage when the lease of our current store expires in May 2025."