One of the UK’s largest furniture sellers has opened a store in a retail park less than two months after a long-running sofa and table shop closed nearby because of heavy competition.

Oak Furniture Land launched its 18,000 sq ft outlet in Aylesford Retail Park over Easter, creating seven jobs.

It follows the closure of Lincoln Furniture Warehouse in February, otherwise known as The Big Yellow Building in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, which shut after 16 years.

Owner Steve Swan said in a statement at the time that the market had “become far more crowded over the last few years” as he closed the store with the loss of 17 jobs.

However, Oak Furniture Land has targeted the area as part of its on-going store opening programme across the UK, with its Aylesford store its third Kent.

Regional manager Shane Jordan said: “We’re hoping that the opening of our store on the site will help to strengthen the retail park as a destination for furniture shopping.

“The new store is a major investment, and plays a significant role in our on-going store opening programme across the UK, which will see us opening a store each month for the next three years.”

Claire Maude, asset manager at the Crown Estate, which owns the retail park, said: “We are delighted to be adding an Oak Furniture Land store to the offering at South Aylesford Retail Park bringing new jobs for local people.

“Oak Furniture Land joins M&S Foodhall as a new opening in the last few weeks and therefore completes the retail offering at the park providing a good choice for the local community.”