A household goods chain is set to open a store in Keighley, creating more than 60 jobs.

Dunelm Mill is seeking to move into the former AMF Bowling premises at Alston Retail Park.

The £1 million-plus plan has been welcomed by community leaders, who say it would provide a major boost to the town.

The store, on the same retail park as B&Q and half a dozen other businesses, intends to sell goods ranging from furniture and bedding to kitchenware. There will also be a cafe.

About 20 full-time and 45 part-time staff will be employed if the scheme gets the go-ahead.

“We need employment in the town and if this creates jobs for local young people in particular it is a good thing,” said Town Mayor, Councillor Sally Walker.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins also welcomed the new jobs.

“Over recent months we have seen employment numbers in Keighley going up and this news is a further and potentially very significant boost,” he said.

“The latest British Chambers of Commerce quarterly survey has found that business confidence in the UK is now at its highest level since 2007. It is particularly pleasing to see this evidenced with what I hope will be a major new private sector investment in our town.”

Keighley Central Councillor Khadim Hussain, who is the Lord Mayor of Bradford, said the scheme was further evidence of the area’s strength as a business base.

“Companies realise the potential and huge opportunities that Bradford district has,” he said.

“I think other businesses will follow the lead.

“This is good news for Keighley.”

Planning permission is being sought to change the use of the former AMF Bowling unit, which has been vacant since 2010, from leisure to retail.

The application includes a cafe, new mezzanine floor and external alterations, with changes to the car park layout and the provision of cycle racks.

The plans have been submitted to Bradford Council by London-based Burnett Planning & Development, acting on behalf of Aviva Investors Pensions.

It said the new unit would add to the 130-plus store portfolio of Dunelm Mill, which also has shops in Bradford and Halifax.