Retailer Farmfoods is planning to open a new store in County Durham, planning documents reveal.

The supermarket has agreed terms in principle to take over a unit at the Clifford Road Retail Park in Stanley, which currently houses Clifford Centre Furnishers if it is resized.

Plans to resize the unit by taking some floor space from a neighbouring empty unit have been submitted to Durham County Council.

The documents state: “The applicant is looking to retain the existing retail use and refurbish Unit 2 to meet the requirements of Farmfoods.

“Indeed, Heads of Terms have been agreed with Farmfoods to occupy an enlarged Unit 2.

“The proposals seek to refurbish Unit 2 which will be extended internally to take part of the existing floorspace within Unit 3 to create an enlarged unit of 1,500 square metres (16,145 square feet) for Farmfoods.”

A Heads of Terms is a type of agreement in principle but is non-binding.

A spokesperson for Farmfoods, which has more than 300 stores nationwide, said: “I can confirm that we are hoping to open a new shop in Stanley, but we are unable to provide any further details at this stage.”

The documents also reveal current tenants Clifford Centre Furnishers will leave its store at the retail park, which is owned by Home Bargains’ parent company TJ Morris, on September 30. Its future is not yet known.

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The Echo has also contacted the furniture retailer for comment.

This newspaper previously reported on a parking row at the retail park after furious drivers were handed fines for parking on neighbouring Thorneyholme Road, which is privately owned, but had no signage to say parking restrictions applied.

Home Bargains apologised and new signage was put up.