A DIY retailer is set to open a store in Basingstoke later this year, creating nearly 50 new jobs.

Home improvement and garden retailer Bunnings Warehouse has announced plans to open a new store in Basingstoke later this year, creating more than 48 new full and part-time jobs.

Bunnings, a leading retailer of home improvement and outdoor living products in Australia and New Zealand, acquired Homebase for £340million in February 2016 – and plans to invest a further £500million building a new Bunnings Warehouse business in the UK and Ireland over the next three to five years.

The new store will be on the site of the former Homebase in Winchester Road, and will open later this year.

Bunnings Warehouse will increase its total number of team members to 107, who will all receive hundreds of hours of training in both product knowledge and specialist tasks such as paint mixing.

Richard Southworth, complex manager at Bunnings Warehouse Basingstoke, said: “It is a great time to join the Bunnings Warehouse team here in Basingstoke. There are roles available across all areas, with hours to suit.

“We want to build a high-quality team so we can build strong business foundations for the future.”

For more details on the roles available, and information on how to apply, visit http://bunnings.careers.