A national DIY retailer is in talks with the city council over the lease of an empty superstore in Canterbury.

Wickes wants to move into the former Homebase building on the Wincheap Industrial Estate.

The firm, which currently has seven Kent branches, is now in discussions with the authority over the vacant unit in Cow Lane.

Homebase bowed out of the city in January last year as part of a UK-wide company restructure.

The council, which bought the site for £3.5 million in 2013, has since remained tight-lipped on who will be moving in.

But a spokesman for Wickes told the Gazette: “I can confirm that we are currently in discussions with the council over the property.”

A number of national and local companies have had viewings at the retail unit and various offers have been received.

Murmurings of Amazon and Ikea considering the site have proved to be just speculation, with the big-name firms denying any interest in the dormant store.

The city council has previously come under fire for not acting swiftly in finding a replacement tenant for the old Homebase store.

During its 13 months of vacancy, the large unit has been blighted by graffiti and the car park has also been barricaded off.

A council spokesman confirmed it is in discussions with Wickes but could not comment further.

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