Market Drayton post office move to former hotel is on cards
A scheme to move a post office in Shropshire into a former hotel has taken a huge step forward after plans were submitted.
Market Drayton businessman Maroof Shah has applied to Shropshire Council to move the Post Office in Queen Street into the Grade II listed Corbet Arms Hotel.
It is part of an £800,000 scheme to create a hotel, restaurant and leisure complex in the boarded up hotel in High Street.
Mr Shah, who is boss at the town's Nisa supermarket in Dalelands West, snapped up the building for £235,000 more than two years ago and plans to do the work in three stages.
In the plans submitted to Shropshire Council the ground floor would house the Post Office and a coffee shop and the rooms upstairs would be renovated and reopened to guests.
A design and access statement said: "Mr Shah wishes to refurbish the building to the original condition externally and move his Post Office operation in Queen Street to the ground floor giving the building a new lease of life.
"The Post Office and retail area together with adjacent café and dining area will provide a new central meeting point within the town centre together with the proposed hotel on the first and second floor which will cater for commercial visitors and tourists.
"The ballroom will be refurbished to give a unique sprung floor and the usage for private parties wedding receptions and conferences etc."
But Mr Shah said work on the outside of the building will begin next week.
He said: "Thieves gave taken lead from the roof and we will start next week replacing it with substitute lead."
Residents can comment on the plans on Shropshire Council's planning website until February 7.
