HIGH street giants Next are the latest big name to be confirmed for the Port Glasgow Retail Park, the Tele can today reveal.

Ediston Real Estate, who are in charge of the development, have added the retailer to the growing list of firms taking units.

A map produced by Ediston shows they are earmarked to move in to a new building still to be constructed at the park, one which will also house Marks & Spencer when it opens next year.

Ediston said: “The second terrace is prelet to M&S for a 40,000 square ft department stall and Next for a full offer fashion unit of 24,000 square ft. and will open in summer 2017.”

Next have been linked with the site for many months, but this is the first official confirmation they will be joining the line-up at what is described as ‘one of the largest speculative retail warehouse developments undertaken in Scotland’ in recent years.

The news will mean a fresh jobs boost for the area. Meanwhile, the identity of the bargain shop which will move into a building still to be put up at the park between B&Q and Aldi has also been revealed.

Poundworld – who have premises in the Oak Mall shopping centre in Greenock – will be taking the unit, which was only recently granted planning permission.

The new developments come as the latest shop at the retail park – currently undergoing a huge £40m expansion – opens today. Discount chain B&M started trading this morning, following the grand opening of the TX Maxx store last week.

Aldi and Watt Bros are in the final stages of preparations for opening their units, which have both been handed over by the developers to the tenants.