Former Shifnal pub set to be turned into shop

The Royal George, in High Street, Shifnal, is set to become a Co-op after plans were approved earlier this year.

The pub has now closed and boards have been put up along the windows and doors as developers New River Retail prepare to transform the building from a pub to a shop.

The redevelopment could create 20 jobs.

The company's current convenience store – which sits next to the earmarked development site – will be closed and moved into the former Royal George site, complete with an extension and alterations.

The town has a second, larger Co-operative shop in Bradford Street which will remain where it is.

The plans faced opposition from councillors and residents when they were first proposed at the start of the year.

Councillor Kevin Turley, who represents Shifnal on Shropshire Council and sits on Shifnal Town Council, said: "It is a shame to see the Royal George go, but it is one of those things.

"The councillors and the community campaigned to keep it open.

"It is the end of an era, the Royal George has been there forever and a day. It will be good to have a shop that is a bit more sizeable."

Twenty objections were put forward by residents when the plans were first put forward, plus one from the town council.

However, eight residents put forward letters of support, saying that there were already a number of pubs in Shifnal and the new store would be more convenient for people living on that side of the town.

In July plans were approved to demolish and reconstruct 70 square metres of existing floor space and construct a 24 square metre extension.

A new frontage will include a glazed shop front and new entrance.

The timber decking and seating area will be removed and the line of bollards across the car park removed to allow movement of more vehicles.

At the end of last year Co-operative Food signed an agreement to lease 54 pub sites from the Marston's Plc public house portfolio owned by NewRiver Retail.

The Royal George was formerly a Marston's-owned pub.

Andrew Torr, spokesman for the Co-operative, said: "A new Co-op food store would have a focus on fresh, healthy foods, meal ideas and essentials, dedicated parking, and create additional retail roles in order to better serve the Shifnal community."

At the end of last year, brewery Marston's announced it would be selling more than 200 pubs across the country.

A spokesman for NewRiver Retail, the owners of the Royal George since it was acquired in December 2013 from Marston's as part of a portfolio of 202 pubs, said: "Following the planning permission granted earlier this year by the council, we are proceeding to convert the building into a new convenience store. We are progressing the tender for the necessary construction work and expect to commence on site in early 2016."