Approval expected for TJ Morris expansion plans

Retail group TJ Morris is expected to be given planning permission for a 35,000 sq ft extension to its Gillmoss head office.

Liverpool council is likely to approve an application for the extension to the company's Axis Business Park headquarters, which will include a 24,000 sq ft warehouse and a 9,700 sq ft retail training centre, when it goes before the planning committee on January 15.

The group, which owns the Home Bargain discount chain, wants to increase the size of its 350,000 sq ft office headquarters as part of a nationwide expansion which could create up to 700 jobs locally.

Its stores opening programme will see the number of outlets it operates rise from 150 to 500 over the next ten years.