Opening of Poundworld will create 30 new jobs

Poundworld has taken over the former Store Twenty-One unit in London Road, North End.

The news has been welcomed by Portsmouth North NP Penny Mordaunt, who has worked to promote North End as it faced a string of closures, which saw the likes of McDonald’s, KFC and the Co-op close.

She said: ‘This is good news and I’m pleased it will be creating further employment.

‘We need to keep the focus on North End, to continue to help it build up footfall but also to regenerate that area more long term.’

The 6,200sq ft Poundworld will be near Boots and Superdrug. There are already several discount retailers along London Road, including rivals Poundland and Pound Stretcher.

The Poundworld store will open on November 17 and it will offer £1 lines, plus branded household items over £1.

Matthew Cornford, area manager, said: ‘We’re excited to be opening our first store in Portsmouth and offering customers their favourite brands and products at the best possible prices – we’re passionate about helping people save as much money as possible on their weekly shop.’

Deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council Luke Stubbs said the opening proved that North End still had a future.

He said: ‘Any investment into North End is very welcome.

‘It is good to see that store being brought back into use. This just shows that North End does have a future as a retail destination.’

The firm has more than 340 stores and over 6,000 staff across the UK, including a store in Gosport that opened last year.

It has plans to open a further 60 stores annually for the next three years and its North End store will open next month, creating 30 new jobs in the process.