Australian retailer Bunnings has opened its first UK store as part of a AGBP500 million ($A829 million) investment plan by its owners.
The inaugural shop in Hertfordshire replaces a previous Homebase store, after the entire brand was acquired by Bunnings' parent company Wesfarmers in a AGBP340 million deal last year.
It is the company's latest move to tap into Britain's GBP38 billion home improvement and garden market, with plans to open at least four pilot locations by June, creating 120 jobs.
A total of 10 stores could be up and running by the end of the year.
Wesfarmers aims to invest up to AGBP500 million to roll out Bunnings Warehouse locations across the UK and Ireland over the next three to five years, as it rebrands former Homebase sites under the Australian retailer's banner.
