High street fashion and homeware retailer Next has announced plans to consult shoppers concerning its new £5 million store at a retail park in Stevenage.

The Next team will be at Roaring Meg Retail Park on Saturday, August 17, from 11am to 3pm to discuss the plans with shoppers.

Next plans to open a new store at 9 Yards - formerly known as Roaring Meg Retail Park - when the lease on its existing store in the town centre runs out in May 2025. 

This is to enable redevelopment in line with a wider town centre masterplan. 

Having undertaken a comprehensive investigation into all other possible sites in Stevenage, Roaring Meg was named the only realistic option for retaining the company in Stevenage. The alternative, to leave Stevenage altogether.

There will be a £5 million investment into the new Next store offering a mix of fashion and a new homeware section.

The new Next store, in an existing vacant unit, will enable the existing 41 Next employees to keep their jobs and transfer, as well as creating a further 35 new jobs.

This will increase Next employment in Stevenage to 76 full and part-time staff.

Paul Dimoldenberg, consultation consultant for Roaring Meg Retail Park, said: “We want to hear what people think about the idea of next remaining in Stevenage.

“We wish to hear what local sentiment is, and we also want to know what goods that they want to see in the new next store.”

Paul predicted that a planning application for the new store would be submitted as early as “next month”.

For those who cannot make it down this upcoming Saturday, Next has  created a website where residents can give their comments on the proposed new store at www.roaringmegnext.co.uk