UP to 100 jobs could be created in Cardigan if plans for a new major retail development are given the go-ahead.

The proposed scheme to build a Home Bargains store on Bath House Road near to the town’s new health centre have been submitted to Ceredigion council have been submitted by TJ Morris (TJM) Limited.

Planning documents say that the plans, if given the go-ahead, would bring “up to 100 jobs to the area”.

TJM said that the company - which has a store on the Ystwyth Retail Park in Aberystwyth - has had a “longstanding” interest in securing a store in Cardigan, where there is “demand” for a large discount retailer.

“The proposals will improve choice, to the benefit of the customer, by introducing a retailer not currently represented in the surrounding locality,” the company outlined in planning documents.

“The proposed development will also contribute positively to the local area, by bringing in to active use a prominent site which is currently vacant.

“The redevelopment of the vacant site will ensure the delivery of a high quality and modern retail building and site improvements including car parking and landscaping.

“The proposals will also create up to 100 new full and part-time jobs and will result in significant investment – both directly and indirectly – in the local economy.

“The majority of these job opportunities will be available to local people and will be across a range of scales.

“In addition to jobs within the store, other employment opportunities will be created.

“These would include jobs created by the store fit out and merchandising of the store, and jobs involved with the future maintenance and security of the retail unit.

“In addition to job retention and creation, the store will create £6 million of investment in the private sector.”

Documents outline that the store aims to achieve a retail turnover of £11.4m.

The site of the proposed store has previously had permission for a supermarket and other retail units, but those plans were never brought forward and have since lapsed.

Work to level the site and prepare it for development have already been undertaken under previous permissions, documents outline.

The plans will see a 2,359 square metre store built alongside an external garden centre and 184 car parking spaces, eight cycle spaces and two motorcycle spaces.

“The proposed redevelopment will aesthetically improve this currently unloved site,” planning documents say.

“Consideration has also been given to a wide range of other development management issues including highways, design and noise.”

TJM, which was founded more than 40 years ago with a single store, currently has more than 550 discount retail stores employing more than 22,000 staff throughout the UK, with plans to expand to more than 1,000 stores.

A community consultation into the plans received no comments, a report outlines.

The plans will now be considered by Ceredigion council planners.