Big Australian craft retailer Lincraft is set to move into Upper Hutt’s The Mall as a cornerstone tenant.

Workers are constructing a new 1000sqm store, which will take up a large portion of the downstairs area near Farmers and T&T.

The site is currently open space and entails some structural changes such as removing the pedestrian ramp and replacing it with a lift.

Lincraft’s arrival is expected to be a welcome boost to Upper Hutt’s retail, which has been working hard to entice new businesses to the area.

In Australia, Lincraft has 75 stores and is a rival to Spotlight.

“They do more homeware and kitchenware. I would say we have slightly better ranges in craft, we possibly have a better range in fabric, but I think that’s very much a generalisation. We’re very similar,” said Lincraft’s owner, Brian Swersky .

Lincraft has been in the South Island for three years and has three stores situated there, with a fourth on the drawing board.