Booming high street retail giant Next is to increase its presence in Bradford by moving to a new 15,000 sq ft store - double the size of its existing premises.

The fashion and homewear retailer, one of the most successful names in British retail at the moment, is to move from its current store at Forster Square Retail Park to a new unit at the development.

The move - which is expected to be completed by November - is likely to create new jobs.

The company will occupy the unit which was recently vacated by discount retailer Matalan which has closed that branch after opening new stores in Greengates and Mayo Avenue.

A Next spokesman said it was too early to say how many jobs would be created at the store.

Next has occupied a host of premises around Bradford in recent years.

It was long-established in Darley Street and opened a Next Clearance outlet in Broadway when C&A closed down in 2001.

That was followed by the opening of the current 8,300 sq ft store in Forster Square which gave the company three outlets in the city.

However, the clearance store was later closed down and transferred business to Darley Street. That outlet has now completely closed, leaving Forster Square as the only Next store in the city.

Today Jeff Frankel, of Bradford Retail Action Group, welcomed news that Next was to move to larger premises. But he hoped that the store would seriously considering locating in the very heart of the city centre at the new Broadway shopping centre when it eventually opens.

He said: "Next is a big high street name and I hope they will consider moving into the new Broadway centre when it opens. We want to see every major high street retailer with a presence in the city.

"Obviously they think that there is good trade to be had in Bradford, which is why they have decided to move to a bigger store in the city.

"That can only be good news for Bradford. Whatever we think of the Forster Square development, it is physically part of the city centre area."