Mystery surrounds what will happen to an out-of-town retail site when its occupant ups and leaves for a bigger premises.

Homebase exclusively confirmed to Kent Online last week that it would move out of its base in the Park Farm Retail Park and move just down the road in expansion plans under new ownership of Australian firm Bunnings Warehouse.

The site formerly housed DIY retailer B&Q who left Folkestone altogether in January.

It will be the fifth Bunnings store to open in the UK.

A planning application for the relevant signage has been submitted to Shepway District Council this week for approval.

A spokesman for Homebase, which will be completely overhauled by Bunnings over the next five years, said that there was no indication of what would happen to the current base when it becomes vacant in July.

A press spokesman said: “Unfortunately we do not know what will happen to the former Homebase site.

“We will be handing this back to the landlord.”

Homebase has been around in Folkestone since the mid-80s, with planning permission first granted in May 1984.

Its future will continue in the town and an additional 40 full and part-time jobs are being recruited.

The spokesman added: “Our team in the existing Homebase store in Folkestone have been made aware and we will be shutting the doors in July.

“This is an exciting development for us as our pilot programme builds momentum extending the Bunnings Warehouse offer to a new area of the UK.”

The new store will span 75,000 sq ft and stock DIY products.