Contractors are now on site as work on Kenilworth's B&M store gets underway.

Kenilworth Nub News revealed earlier this month that an application to open a new store on Station Road had been submitted to Warwick District Council.

The discount retailer is working to repurpose the shut Wilko store, just months after the latter closed for good.

And now B&M has put up banners announcing the shop's opening in the town, with contractor IPD Shopfitting now on site completing the refurbishment.

Work on site began on Monday (January 15) and is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete.

The lease for the Station Road shop was agreed in December, surveyors Brackenridge Hanson Tate confirmed.

B&M is coming to Kenilworth! (image by James Smith)

"We're pleased to have acted on behalf of the landlord of 697 Station Road, Kenilworth, which was formerly occupied by Wilko on the lease assignment to B&M until January 2031," the firm said in a statement on its website.

"The property comprises a 14,602 sq.ft part single and part two storey purpose built retail unit, formerly a supermarket of which 12,334 sq.ft is ground floor sales. The unit benefits from a secure concrete yard to the rear.

"The unit is highly prominent being situated on Station Road and immediately adjacent to Abbey End Car Park, the towns main car park.

"We're delighted to have secured B&M as a tenant for our client following Wilko's administration."

B&M has since submitted a licence application to the council, asking for permission to sell alcohol on site.

If approved, the application would see alcohol sold at the empty Kenilworth retail unit from 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday.

In September 2023, B&M agreed a £13 million deal to purchase 51 Wilko sites, as the latter went into administration.

Already with over 660 stores nationwide, B&M has recently started reopening former Wilko sites under its branding.

Locals have until January 18 to have their say on the licence application.

See the full application here.

Kenilworth Nub News has approached B&M for comment.