Sports Direct is to replace a former Carpetright store in a town.

The new branch will open at Sittingbourne Retail Park this summer.

The carpet firm shut more than 200 stores last year, including 10 in Kent, after it went into administration.

This included the Sittingbourne store on the retail park, which has been vacant for almost a year.

Now, it has been revealed Sports Direct will be moving there following the sale of its branch in the High Street.

At the start of the year, that store went under the hammer at a Clive Emson auction.

It came after planning permission for the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed building was granted in April last year.

The scheme would require the demolition of a two-storey extension to the rear of the site, replacing it with a three-storey structure.

The building would have two commercial spaces on the ground floor and eight flats over the first and second floors, including two two-bedroom flats and six one-bedroom flats.

It is not known when the High Street Sports Direct will be shutting, however it has been confirmed that staff will be transferred to the new location.

The new branch is also expected to create more jobs.

A Frasers Group spokesperson said: “We are pleased to be opening a new, elevated 8,500 sq ft Sports Direct store, located in Sittingbourne Retail Park.

“Set to open summer 2025, this dynamic, upsized store will offer customers the world’s most aspirational sports and lifestyle brands, as well as bring other brands from Frasers Group’s ecosystem, including USC and GAME, to the location.”