Major chain is moving in to Port Glasgow

The cosmetics chain Superdrug is preparing to set up shop in one of the last-remaining empty units in the town's retail park, next door to Iceland offshoot The Food Warehouse and Card Factory.

Bosses have applied for planning permission to put up Superdrug branding at the store and they are also awaiting the green light from building control officials to carry out a £112,000 internal makeover.

Company chiefs are tight-lipped about the exact number of positions being created at their Port outlet, but 23 staff are being taken on for a similar sized shop which is due to open at an English shopping park later this month.

The retailer is owned by AS Watson Group, which also includes brands such as discount chain Savers, The Perfume Shop and soft drinks manufacturer Sunkist.

Bosses last month rebranded the Superdrug in Greenock's Oak Mall as Savers.

Back in 2017 the boss of AS Watson announced plans to launch 30 new Superdrug shops across the UK, creating 650 jobs.

It is part of a group-wide expansion that also includes the opening of 45 Savers stores.

Under the plans, over 1,000 staff are being be taken on across the AS Watson portfolio of companies.

Both the planning and building warrant applications for the proposed Port Superdrug store are being considered by Inverclyde Council officials.

The company's arrival would leave the former Poundworld building between Aldi and B&Q as one of the few vacant units left in the retail park.

It has been empty since the pound shop chain folded in July last year.