AN extra 22 jobs are being created on the Hyndburn Retail Park with the opening of a new bespoke kitchen design company.

Wren will join Harveys, Dreams and Sofaworks at the expanding Whitebirk site, after the completion of a 7,467 square foot store development.

Earlier this year plans were also approved for a new Home Bargains outlet at the same location, in the old MFI premises.

The remainder of the site, which includes a mezzanine level, could become a new gym, though no operator has been formally identfified for that project.

Speaking about the Wren deal Roger Wheeldon, development director at owners Peel L&P, said: "The success story of Hyndburn Retail Park continues with the wonderful addition of Wren.

"The transformation of the park in recent years now complements local customers and their shopping needs including the addition of Aldi, B&M and Costa Coffee in recent times.

"We look forward to celebrating the opening day with the Wren team."

Bosses at the retailer, which already has a trading presence in Preston and Bolton, have confirmed their Blackburn area store should be opening on September 13.

Designers will be on hand so customers can create their own ideal kitchen.

Supported by manufacturing units in North Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, the kitchens chain has 81 other locations nationwide.

Retail park chiefs say that footfall at Hyndburn Retail Park has also increased by 81 per cent over the past two years.

One million visitors were said to have descended on the wider shopping centre in 2018.

A £3million investment programme, improving access, CCTV and LED lighting, has also recently been completed.

The same company also has the Peel Centre in Blackburn, which hosts the likes of Nando's, Vue and B&M Bargains.

If Home Bargains, which is only permitted to sell bulkier goods, goes ahead it should generate an additional 30 posts at the shopping centre.