RETAIL giant Matalan has opened the doors of its new clothing and homeware superstore in Scarborough town centre following a £6 million redevelopment project.

The new 34,423 sq ft purpose built building at St Thomas Street has been completed by Northamptonshire developers Hampton Brook. The structure, with mock Victorian faade to blend with its surroundings, has been leased by Matalan for 25 years at a rent of more than 430,000 per year, or £12.50 per square foot.

Matalan already has a successful store at Clifton Moor shopping centre on the outskirts of York among 170 UK branches, but Scarborough's will be only its second town centre location in the country.

Angus Blair, managing director of Hampton Brook, said: "It seems hard to believe that this site 12 months ago was a derelict former petrol station, supermarket and public house."

Updated: 09:22 Thursday, April 21, 2005