A national building supplier chain eyeing up a move to the north-east is biding its time to see whether council planners give it the go-ahead first.
A planning application for permission to change the former Carpetright store in Fraserburgh to a warehouse and trade counter has been submitted.
The unit has been vacant since it closed the doors of its South Harbour Road retail park store in 2018.
London-based Varied Portfolio Estate Company, acting on behalf of an interested building trade chain client, is seeking permission to convert the 379 square metre unit from a retail space to a trade counter and depot layout.
Property consultants Ryden said in an application: “Given prevailing market conditions in the retail sector, demand for a store of this size continues to be very low across typical retail operators.
“Recent discussions have, however, taken place with an interested party, which is keen to occupy the unit as a trade counter, for the storage and trade in equipment associated with the building industry.
“The proposed use would sit comfortably within the existing South Harbour Road Retail Park and revitalise the existing vacant unit, thereby creating new jobs to the benefit of the local economy. ”
The vacant unit shares the South Harbour retail park with Tesco and Lidl supermarkets and an Argos branch.