Y840k to BE invEstED in toy shop rEfurBishmEnt

MORE than three quarters of a million pounds is to be spent on creating a new toy store at a Dundee leisure and retail park.

Work to transform a derelict former Dundee nightclub i nto a Smyths toy store and gym facility got under way in August.

According to a building warrant notice submitted to Dundee City Council, £744,000 will be spent on refurbishing the building and £96,000 on stripping out works.

The Stack’s operator TJ Morris announced earlier this year that it would bring the Smyths Toy Superstore and a gym to the leisure park.

The group, which also owns nationwide retail chain Home Bargains, had originally made a £5 million deal with Sports Direct to convert the Venue building into a gym in 2015.

However, the deal collapsed and, earlier this year, TJ Morris brought forward the new plans.

Councillor Michael Marra, who represents the Lochee area, said that it was “good to see life” coming back into the Stack Leisure Park.

He said: “This will make a real difference to the area — I think we have to also hope that this will be a catalyst to see more and more businesses coming to Lochee.

It’s something that we should be supporting.

“Hopefully there will also be benefits for Lochee High Street — we want to see people coming through using the shops and facilities in the area.”

When the Smyths toy store opens, it will become the eighth t he chain has i n Scotland.

Analysis by consultancy firm Iceni Projects suggests that the store will create 30 permanent jobs and another 30 temporary roles at