Changing face of Snedshill industrial estate
[gallery] A £12 million Shropshire complex, housing a DIY superstore and low-cost supermarket and creating 70 jobs, could be open ahead of schedule before Christmas, bosses revealed today.
A £12 million Shropshire complex, housing a DIY superstore and low-cost supermarket and creating 70 jobs, could be open ahead of schedule before Christmas, bosses revealed today.
These pictures show building work at the former industrial estate site in Snedshill, Telford, is progressing well.
Shrewsbury-based developers Liberty Mercian obtained planning permission in November last year to build a development on the site.
The two units were snapped up by Wickes and Aldi and a completion date of mid 2011 was set.
But Chris Towers, director of Liberty Mercian, said the recent fine weather had allowed workmen to make quicker progress than expected.
He said: "We are delighted at the way things are going. We are slightly ahead of schedule in that we expect the work now to be finished before Christmas.
"We may not be ready to open then, because it depends on the occupiers and how quickly they want to get moving.
"But it's definitely going really well and we are really pleased with it, as the council are. The fine weather we have had has allowed us to get a head start and its great to see it all coming together."
Contractors demolished the derelict factory units before starting preparatory work on the site, which included extensive underground stabilisation work.
Work is now ongoing to build the two new units and create the 180 car parking spaces allowed for under the scheme.
As well as the £12 million to develop the site, Liberty Mercian has also set aside more than £410,000 towards infrastructure for transport and highways around the site.
Opinion was divided on the scheme when it first came before planners in November last year. Objections were initially raised from residents fearing increased traffic and claiming trade would be diverted away from town centres.
But members of Telford & Wrekin Council's plans board said the site, in Holyhead Road, near Oakengates, was an eyesore and welcomed investment in it.
Members claimed instead of killing trade it could have the opposite effect.
