A NEW discount store is due to open this weekend – creating 75 new jobs.

Home Bargains has invested approximately £1 million into its new store in Chichester.

The Barnfield Drive store, which is due to officially open at 8am on Saturday, November 27, will create 75 jobs in the local community.

The 17,685 sq. ft site, which formerly housed Wickes, will include a range of products including homeware, health and beauty, food and drinks.

The store will also come with its own garden centre – GardenWorld at Home Bargains – that will boast a range of plants, soils and garden décor.

In total, the store will employ 80 team members, including staff and management who will be transferring from other local Home Bargains stores.

Rob Miles, the new store manager, said: “I started my Home Bargains journey three years ago and during that time have worked as a store manager at Eastleigh and Portsmouth.

“There’s nothing quite like the buzz of opening a new store – there’s a lot of hard work and dedication that’s gone into the new site and I can’t wait to open its doors this weekend alongside such a fantastic team. It’s something that I’m exceptionally proud of.

“Barnfield Drive will be a great location for us and we’re proud to be able to offer local people top-branded goods at exceptionally low prices.”

The store has also pledged to donate £2,000 to St. Wilfrid’s Hospice in Bosham, near Chichester, which provides palliative and end of life care.

Laura Eastwood, fundraising manager at St. Wilfrid’s Hospice, said “We are delighted to welcome Home Bargains to Chichester and thank them for their kind donation to St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

“We are a local charity supporting local people living with life limiting illnesses and this donation will make a real difference in our community.”

The new store will join more than 575 Home Bargains outlets across the UK.

Home Bargains opens approximately 50 stores a year.