RETAILER Poudland has unveiled plans to open and relocate at least 50 new stores over the next nine months in a move set to create up to 800 jobs.

The plans will see the biggest Poundland opened in Scotland – a “supersized” 18,380 sq ft store on Glasgow’s Crown Street, set to launch in March.

The chain said that around half of the planned store changes would be new openings in cities while the remainder would be relocations from smaller and outdated sites, or extensions to existing shops.

Around 750 to 800 jobs will be created on a net basis, according to Poundland, as part of the store overhaul programme.

Managing director Barry Williams said: “We will continue to work hard to find the right locations that suit the range of Poundland formats we now offer – from neighbourhood convenience stores to our large destination stores.”