High street and ecommerce retailer Sports Direct, part of the Frasers Group, is preparing for the final stage of a move within a Cotswold town to bigger premises which it hopes will boost its retail presence in the town.

Upping sticks from Union Street in Stroud, the outlet will shift to a 10,000 sq ft location within the nearby Five Valleys Shopping Centre, which has been undergoing a £30m refurb under new owners Dransfield Properties Ltd.

A spokesman for Dransfield said: "The Five Valleys store will offer the world's biggest sports and lifestyle brands across footwear, clothing and equipment, as well as featuring more brands from Frasers Group's ecosystem, including USC and GAME."

The unit is opposite the bustling indoor food market and became vacant in September 2023 when grocery and goods chain Wilko announced its nationwide closure.

James Shepherd, MD at Dransfield, added: "We are delighted to be working with Sports Direct on their move, which will see investment in Stroud, additional jobs and better brands coming to the town.

"We hope to make announcements soon on the retailer taking the unit next door."

Frasers Group added: "The store will offer customers the world's best sports and lifestyle brands, as well as bring other brands from Frasers Group's ecosystem, including USC and GAME."

No precise date has been given for the opening but it is expected this spring.

In related news for the Stroud shopping venue, the town's library is in the process of moving to occupy the lower ground floor of the complex in King's Street – and will now open its doors for visitors on April 2nd.

As an intermediate step, Stroud Library was forced to move from its original address on Lansdown and set up temporary status in February in the wake of the discovery of dangerous aerated concrete  in the original building's structure.

As well as children's and adult books, the new facility will include a 'Lab' area for 3D design/print, virtual reality and access to the full Adobe creative suites, as well as a new bookable meeting room, free computer access for members and printing. Electric vehicle charging points are also available within the shopping centre, while the building is heated and cooled by an air source heat pump.