NEXT plans to open new store at Forest Retail Park in Thetford

National retailer NEXT has revealed plans to open a new store in Thetford.

A planning application has been submitted to Breckland District Council to convert the former Carpetright store at the Forest Retail Park, in London Road.

The new store would create about 25 jobs, equivalent to 15 to 17 full-time posts, with the aim of opening in the second quarter of 2025.

Gary Robinson, of NEXT Estates, said: “We’re really excited to bring NEXT to Thetford for the first time which will mean that our customers locally will no longer have to travel significant distances to visit one of our stores in Bury St Edmunds, Kings Lynn, Norwich or Cambridge.

“In advance of our planning submission, we have informally discussed our plans with Breckland Council and Thetford Town Council and we were very encouraged by the supportive response we received.

“The message we took away was that a new store would be a welcome and popular addition to the town, offering improved consumer choice.”

The proposed works include alterations to the front and back elevations including glazing to the shopfront to improve the appearance of the unit.

Permission is required from the council to vary a planning condition on the Forest Retail Park to allow fashion to be sold at the unit as well as for the outside alterations.