A KITCHEN showroom will replace a former Comet building which has lain empty for four years.

Wren Kitchens is set to open in the vacant site in Fossetts Drive, off Eastern Avenue, Southend, on Boxing Day and work is currently underway to change the facade of the building.

The national chain is installing large glass windows on the front of the building to completely transform it.

The company is already advertising for people to fill 30 jobs, including kitchen designers.

A spokesman for the company said: “We are going to employ 30 local people to work in the store, including managers, designers and kitchen surveyors. There will be 50 kitchen displays from modern to traditional.

“There will also be a state-of-the-art design centre. Customers will be able to choose from 45 colours and ten design ranges.

“When we open on Boxing day we will have 61 stores nationwide. On the first day we will be promoting our winter sale and there will be pre-opening offers.”

Southend planners granted permission for the major changes to the building, saying they were “acceptable”.

They said the site, near Waitrose, was far enough away from residential properties to have no impact on them.

The company, which already has a store in Basildon, supplies kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms but says it will concentrate just on kitchens in the new store because of the high demand in Essex.

Mark Flewitt, councillor responsible for planning, said he was pleased to see the store being occupied at last.

He said: “I welcome any new business into Southend wherever they are and I wish them well.

“It will give shoppers more choice.”

Southchurch ward councillor Anne Holland, said: “I’m really pleased that the building is going to be used. It’s been empty for years.

“I couldn’t believe that no one wanted to take it over sooner. You’ve got Waitrose and Majestic Wines there. It’s in a great spot and there’s plenty of parking.”

The Comet store closed after the company folded in November 2012 with a loss of 15 jobs.

A year later Wickes announced it was going to take over the building but they backed out and the vast two-storey building has been empty ever since.