BUDGET supermarket giant Iceland is one hurdle away from opening a £1 million “warehouse-style” store in Clydebank town centre – the first of its kind in Scotland.

The firm – which operates close to 900 stores nationwide – has submitted an alcohol licensing application to West Dunbartonshire Council in connection with the planned opening of the10,000 sq ft store under The Food Warehouse.

If the application is approved by the council’s licensing committee next month, it would pave the way for the new store to open in Clyde Retail Park in July – which would also create 20 new jobs.

The Food Warehouse’s managing director Richard Walker told the Post: “The Food Warehouse is a new and exciting concept, offering a truly outstanding food and drink range in an easy-to-shop warehouse setting.

“We and our landlord together intend to make a £1 million investment at The Clyde Retail Park, bringing new life to a property that has lain vacant for around a year and creating more than 20 good new jobs for local people.

“We very much hope that the licensing committee will look favourably on our application as this is the final hurdle we need to overcome before going ahead with our investment at Clydebank and beginning what we hope will be the roll-out of The Food Warehouse across Scotland, creating many more new jobs and more opportunities for our Scottish food and drink suppliers.”

The Food Warehouse stores are more than twice the size of a typical Iceland high street store and stock the complete Iceland range, as well as extended ranges of luxury and speciality frozen food, chilled meat and fresh produce, fine wines and craft beers, a wide selection of value bulk packs of grocery products, and selected bargain homeware lines.

Local politicians and business chiefs have already welcomed the prospect of the new store.

Damon Scott, chief executive of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The chamber welcomes investment and job creation that generates a wider benefit and sits well within the current provision.”

Gil Paterson, MSP for Clydebank, added: “I welcome new business coming to Clydebank and bringing jobs. Economic growth is key to alleviating many core problems facing Scotland, such as child poverty. The more who have jobs, the healthier our local economy is.”