A FASHION chain’s move into the former Boots store in the centre of York has moved a step closer.

TK Maxx has won permission from planners to refurbish the Coney Street outlet, which has been empty for two years, and open its second store in the city.

Its proposals, which have now been approved by City of York Council, involve giving the two entrances to the four-storey building a facelift and stripping it out to create a boutique devoted to selling women’s clothing.

The chain already has a store at Monks Cross Shopping Park, but turned its attention to adding a city centre site after Boots moved to the building left behind when Woolworths went out of business in the summer of 2008.

TK Maxx is believed to be paying about £500,000 a year to let the site, and a planning statement submitted to the council as part of its application for the revamp said: “The original entrances from Coney Street and Market Street are to be retained.

“There will be no changes to the listed Coney Street elevations except for refurbishment of the existing shop front, replacing existing sliding doors with outward-opening swing doors.

“The project involves the stripping-out of the existing Boots the Chemist store and associated facilities, and re-fitting the space for use by TK Maxx. The ground and first floors will host sales only and the second and third floors will house staff areas.”

The company also plans to remodel the metal entrance to the store in Market Street with a timber-style appearance, which would match its listed façade in Coney Street, and has said its plans do not include making any major changes to the scale of the current building.

TK Maxx has previously said it hopes the new store will open in September, but the exact date and the number of jobs it will create once the work is completed have yet to be confirmed.

The company, which also sells homeware, furniture and beauty products, has more than 200 outlets across the UK as well as others in Ireland, Germany and Poland.