Grocontinental jobs boost as as Whitchurch storage site wins approval

Grocontinental, based at Whitchurch Business Park, has been given permission to build a temperature-controlled dry goods storage chamber on land near its current base.

The company, which employs more than 350 people at its storage and distribution firm, said the scheme would help it meet growing demand for this kind of storage and could create up to 15 new jobs.

The plans were put forward to Shropshire Council during October last year and were this month given permission by Shropshire Council planning officers.

Tim Rogers, of Shropshire Council, said that the design and scale of the build would be suitable for the area. He said: "It will enable an existing key business to continue to contribute to the economy of the area and as such the viability and vitality of the town."

Initially, the plans drew a number of concerns from local residents and objections from the town council.

But the scheme was looked at again by bosses and changes were made to reduce the impact it will have on nearby homes.

In documents supporting the plans, Trundley Design Services on behalf of Grocontinental said the build will also include a loading dock.

It said: "The site represents a very important facility within the local economy employing in excess of 350 staff, in addition to their existing facilities at Higher Heath and Prees.

"The existing facilities at Whitchurch are used by Grocontinental Ltd to suit primarily dairy products, including cheese, yoghurts and associated delicacies, chicken but also meat products, bread and other perishable commodities.

"Over the last few years there has also been an increased requirement to provide chilled as well as sub zero and storage."

It added that the need for this new building shows "continued growth" for the business and that the unit needs to be built soon to "provide additional capacity and specific production requirements now being required by end users".