DETAILS have been revealed of where the newest Greggs shop could open in Dorset.

The national bakery chain currently operates from 18 sites across the county.

Plans have been tabled by the owners of a Poole retail park for Greggs to take on a unit which has been vacant since 2020.

Greggs has eyed up the site at Wessex Gate Retail Park most recently occupied by Carphone Warehouse prior to the retailer’s nationwide store closure programme, with all of its operations relocating into Currys’ stores.

At the retail park this saw Carphone Warehouse make the short trip across the site in Broadstone Way, but the unit it previously occupied has been empty ever since.

Wessex Gate Limited, owner of the site, has tabled an application with BCP Council’s planning department to vary the condition of the existing approval to allow Greggs to take on the premises.

A statement submitted on behalf of the applicant by Savills said: “Operations of the type proposed are common features of established retail destinations.

“Given their small-scale nature, the proposed operations can only act as a complementary facility to existing and established retail destinations, principally serving the users of those destinations.

“It follows that the proposed development does not represent a challenge or competition to defined town centre locations.”

Greggs currently has four outlets in Poole – in the town centre, on the Nuffield Industrial Estate, at the Esso Garage in Ringwood Road, Rossmore, and in Ashley Road, Parkstone.

The proposed retail park shop would create 19 full-time equivalent employment positions, which would generate overall estimated wages of £347,7776 per year.

The statement from Savills said the employment would help to maintain and increase disposable income in the area, which would in turn support other businesses.

It added: “The proposed development is primarily intended to complement the primary retail function of the existing Retail Park.

“Given the proposed facility will serve an existing customer base, it is intrinsically linked to the existing function of the Retail Park.

“Providing the same floorspace in any centre will not meet the same customer or operator need.”

The application is currently being assessed by council planners.