Talks are underway which could see home and garden retailer The Range taking over the former Wilko shop in Neath town centre.
Neath Port Talbot Council said it was currently in "detailed discussions" with the firm about taking over the lease of the Water Street premises following the collapse of Wilko. The Range currently has more more than 200 stores in the UK and Ireland including outlets in Cwmdu and Trallwn in Swansea.
Discount chain Wilko went into administration in August but there were hopes many of its 400 branches could be saved via a rescue deal involving the owner of HMV, however the plan failed last month. Seventy Wilkos including five in Wales - Aberdare, Ammanford, Chepstow, Pembroke Dock and Pontypool - were subsequently bought by the owners of Poundland and will be rebranded. Read: What went wrong with Wilko and will it ever come back?
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The leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Steve Hunt, has welcomed the news of the talks with The Range. He said: "We are delighted to hear our officers are now in negotiations with the owners of the Range over the lease of the former Wilko store in the centre of Neath. Coming so soon after the closure of this flagship store and at a time when high streets across the UK are struggling this is very encouraging news." For the latest Neath Port Talbot news, sign up to our newsletter here
Neath Port Talbot Council is also in talks with a start-up company which offers soft play facilities for children over the potential takeover of the vacant Unit 2 in the town centre's new leisure centre development next to the Wilko shop.
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