SPORTING goods store Decathlon could be set to expand its presence at a retail park into a neighbouring unit offering fishing, hunting and horse riding items.

Planning permission has been granted for the business to spread across into the premises currently occupied by Carpetright at Poole Retail Park.

The former owners of the retail park, NewRiver, submitted the application to remove a condition of the initial planning approval for the retail units, which would pave the way for the Decathlon expansion.

The proposal was approved by BCP Council's planning officers last month under delegated powers.

At present, it is not known what the approval means for the future of Carpetright at the site.

A report by BCP Council planning officer Claire Moir said the planning condition was successfully removed to allow Decathlon to operate in its existing unit in 2015.

"The proposals are considered acceptable, allowing what is presumably a thriving business to expand and therefore securing its retention within the retail park," her report said.

"The (retail) park has undergone some transformations since its original set up and this has allowed it to move with the times and differing shopping trends.

"The fact that the variation will allow expansion of an existing unit also means that it is not impacting on the main town centre as the use is already here."

Decathlon is a sporting goods retailer with more than 2,000 stores over 56 countries, with just shy of 50 locations across the UK and the majority of these at retail parks.

A planning and retail statement submitted on behalf of the applicant by Q+A Planning Ltd said: "The expanded store will allow Decathlon to increase the range of sports incorporated in its retail offer.

"In particular, the retailer intends to introduce goods relating to fishing, hunting and horse riding, as well as expanding its existing offer of sports-related goods as are sold within its existing store."

As reported, since submitting the planning application, NewRiver, along with fellow owners Bravo Strategies, sold Poole Retail Park to property firms M7 Real Estate and Oxford Properties in a £58million deal.

The Daily Echo contacted Decathlon, Carpetright and M7 Real Estate for comment, but at the time of going to print had not received a response.