Co-op store to open on Shrewsbury Business Park

Plans have been in place for some time to include a retailer as part of the business park's development, and work to extend the park to Wenlock Road is ongoing.

Now the Co-op has agreed to occupy the site, moving in once the building is completed next May having agreed a 15-year lease.

It will be joined by two smaller shops, with a restaurant moving in later.

Chris Moss, acquisition manager for Co-operative Food North West and Wales, said: "The Co-operative Food look forward to opening at Shrewsbury Business Park as part of our continued expansion throughout Shropshire and Mid Wales.

"The new unit will offer a wide product range to the occupiers at Shrewsbury Business Park as well as the housing areas in Wenlock Road and Sutton Road.

"We will also create new jobs by employing 20 full and part time staff at the shop."

The new supermarket was introduced as part of the scheme as, at present, workers on the business park are short on options when it comes to retailers.

The business park is mainly occupied by service sector companies such as wealth managers Brewin Dolphin, Whittingham Riddell, one of Shropshire's biggest accountancy firms, and Handelsbanken, the Swedish bank which is to move to a new home on the second phase of the development once it is complete.

Shropshire Council's private company ip&e is also based on the park, and there is a Holiday Inn hotel and a children's day nursery.

The extension will see 17 new units built, providing around 160,000 sq ft of office space as well as the new convenience store and restaurant.

There will also be 565 parking spaces and a second access road, Anchorage Road off Wenlock Road.

Shropshire surveyors Cooper Green Pooks negotiated the lease with the Co-op on behalf of park owners Alaska.

The proposed development will include a £1 million food store, coffee shop, restaurant and sandwich shop.

Alan Hay of Alaska said: "We are delighted to welcome The Co-operative Food to Shrewsbury Business Park to service about 1,200 people already working at the park and also the expanding housing areas nearby.

"As part of phase two of the park's development, we are also in discussion with potential office occupiers hoping to take new buildings to be constructed in the area."