In a week in which Midsomer Norton will potentially be seeing £2 million worth of investment thanks to a national chain, Paulton could be receiving the same treatment – as Wickes Building Supplies Limited, which stocks DIY products for both trade and the public, has submitted a planning application to B&NES Council to refurbish the Focus site at Old Mills.

The plans include refurbishment of the existing unit, with a new entrance, revised parking layout and new and replacement planting.

Comments on the application are invited by 29th January and a target decision date has been set for 3rd February.

Wickes, which also has stores in Bath and Yeovil, has over 200 sites in the UK. It is involved with the site as, in the early 1990s, Great Mills had a range of stores, 'Bay6', which Wickes bought from Great Mills' parent company.

The site in Paulton was Great Mills' original flagship store, which, founded in 1972, was originally Clapton Building Supplies. At one time, Great Mills employed over 3,500 people and had several stores across the area. In 2000, it was bought by DIY and gardening chain, Focus, which went into administration in 2011. The building has been standing empty ever since.

Speaking to The Journal this week, Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said: "I suspect many people will support this welcome investment in the Somer Valley and the associated employment opportunities it will bring. Indeed, our recent Community Survey showed that a DIY outlet was clearly the business offering that most people in the town wanted to see expanded.

"Although we won't be formally consulted on the planning application, as the site is in Paulton Parish Council's area, the Town Council plans to discuss the application and submit a comment to the planning authority in B&NES. We are sure that any impact on highways or neighbouring properties will be carefully considered by both B&NES Council and Paulton Parish Council through the planning process."

Speaking about the application this week, Liz Hardman, B&NES Labour Councillor for Paulton, said: "For most of us in Paulton, Wickes to take over the old Focus site is a dream come true. Most people have really missed having a large DIY store in the Paulton area, since the closure of Focus some years ago. The fifty jobs to be created will give much-needed employment to our area and the £2.2. million investment is a much-needed injection of cash into the local economy."

Fellow B&NES Labour Councillor for Paulton, John Bull, also commented: "Many residents have told me that they greatly miss this local DIY store. This application, from a well-known national chain, promises to create much-needed jobs for the area. Unless there is some unforeseen problem, I will be supporting it when it comes before B&NES planners."

Paulton Parish Council voted unanimously on Monday evening to support the planning application for Wickes Builders Merchants to take over and upgrade the old Focus retail unit at Old Mills, in Paulton. A spokesperson said: "This proposal complies with the objectives of the Paulton Community Plan and supports the Paulton Parish Council view that the Old Mills site should be reserved for development for employment use."