Bunnings has confirmed that the Homebase store in Griffiths Way, St Albans will be the UK's first to be transformed into Bunnings Warehouse by February 2017.

A spokesperson told DIY Week: "In order or the work on the new store to start, the current Homebase store will close at the end of the month and customers will be able to shop at the nearby store in St Albans, Hatfield Road."

Work at the store will include removal of the current mezzanine and the addition of a larger canopy. The store will also hold around 40% more SKUs and will include a cafe, children's playground and training area for staff and customers. Around 30 additional members of staff will be employed.

It comes following rumours that the Plymouth Homebase would be the first to undergo the Bunnings conversion this Autumn. Bunnings has now confirmed that four pilot stores are planned to open by the end of June 2017.

Homebase Bunnings managing director Peter Davis said that the Griffiths Way Homebase store had been selected because it was "quite typical" of the way the store conversions would go in the future.

Speaking to Retail Week, he said: " The demographic is strong. Plus St Albans is a good distance from the store support centre and London, so it’s easy for our suppliers and development team to support the opening.

"It is an opportunity to continue to learn how to combine the best of the UK and Ireland with the best of Bunnings. We want to open between four and ten pilots before we push the button on the wider roll out, because we’ve got a lot to learn.”