AROUND 60 new jobs are expected to be created with the opening of a homeware retailer moving into a Darlington industrial estate.

A 32,200 sq ft store with separate mezzanine floor level and café are due to open in November as part of a new Dunelm store coming to the town.

The company, which sells home furnishing products across homewares, furniture and garden products, announced its “significant investment” into Darlington and its new Morton Park base.

Alongside employing around 60 members of staff, the shop is expected to be open seven days a week at the site off Yarm Road.

Some of the new roles will include working in the store’s Pausa café, which will serve lunches, snacks and drinks, alongside other jobs as in-store customer advisors.

The area manager at Dunelm Darlington, Jim Murphy, said: “We are looking forward to becoming a new neighbour to the Darlington community.

“There is a strong retail offering within the town but we’ve spotted a gap in the market for Dunelm’s extensive collection of homewares and hope we can cater for the diverse range of shoppers within the community.

“We have an exciting opening day planned and we hope the local community will join us at our official opening day on Tuesday, November 28.”

Dunelm’s move into the area comes after TK Maxx – which also offers a range of homeware – vacated its store on Darlington’s Crown Street in February.

The shop relocated to the Darlington Retail Park, off Yarm Road.

A Dunelm spokesman said: “The new Darlington store will be open seven days a week.

“The brand new store boasts free parking and is fully air conditioned for comfort and convenience.

“Dunelm has an exciting expansion programme in place for 2017 which will see a wide range of stores opening across the whole of the UK.”

The announcement of the store opening and new jobs being created comes in the same week that troubled menswear retailer Greenwoods confirmed it would continue to operate its unit on Skinnergate, in Darlington, despite closing several other shops in the region.

Speaking to The Northern Echo earlier this week, Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said the town was being marketed as an attractive area for traders and businesses to come to.

Cllr McEwan said: “Our job is to work with traders and businesses to create the right environment for a strong high street.

“You cannot ignore the impact of internet shopping, but you also cannot ignore that people like to see and touch what they’re buying.

“What we are trying to do is create an environment where people can shop, eat, drink, enjoy leisure time and do business, like in the Department for Education offices.”

A Dunelm spokesman added that the store will stock furnishings and products including bedlinen, lighting, wall art and mirrors, cushions, curtains, rugs and fabrics.