A LARGE DIY store could replace the Kwik Save supermarket in Malvern Link.

Malvern Retail Park owners Hercules Unit Trust have bought the Kwik Save site and this week made a planning application to extend it.

If the plans are approved, Kwik Save would have to move elsewhere.

Focus DIY, currently based in the retail park, wants to set up shop at the supermarket's Spring Lane site, opposite existing DIY outlet Handy-man House.

The existing floorspace is 1,974 square metres and the extension would provide 479 square metres of extra retail space and 833 square metres for a garden centre.

Malvern Link traders seem less worried about the prospect of Focus than they were about the Lidl store, granted planning permission in September.

Graham Perkins, who owns Link Antiques, in Worcester Road, had no objections, but thought any increase in traffic could cause problems.

"There could be gridlock in the Link," he said.

Andrew Jones, director of Pillar Property PLC, the Hercules Trust's property advisor, said the supermarket would look for a new location, but he did not know where.

Kwik Save press officer Jackie Novels confirmed it was now leasing the site from Hercules.

She said the store would carry on as normal until the planning application was decided.

"If the landlord stops renting it to us, then we'll have to move," she said.

Mr Jones said Focus wanted to move to a stand-alone site, to have more control over amenities such as parking.

"Times have changed over the last ten years and Focus requested the move," he said.

Focus will not sign an agreement with the Trust until planning permission is granted, but there is a long list of businesses hoping to move into the retail park.

Mr Jones would not reveal what would replace Focus, but said there was demand from furniture, fashion and sports equipment retailers.

"Malvern is a busy place, with good demand and a good catchment area," he said.

If the move happens, Mr Jones expects to see more jobs.

He said the opening of a new Dorothy Perkins, Burton and Evans store at the Retail Park on Friday had created around 40 jobs.