Town firm in £6m revamp
A north Shropshire company has announced plans for a major £6 million investment which will create more jobs.
A north Shropshire company has announced plans for a major £6 million investment which will create more jobs.
Grocontinental in Whitchurch is to double the size of one of its three sites in the town.
The firm, which employs about 280 people, has been granted permission for the scheme which includes building a new cold storage warehouse, a loading dock and dry goods store and extending a warehouse.
It means the chilled distribution firm can add 5,700 square metres of floorspace at its premises and create more jobs.
As part of the investment the company is upgrading its fleet of vehicles and increasing the warehouse capacity by 17,000 pallets with the construction of a new temperature-controlled warehouse to accommodate both chilled and frozen products.
Joint managing director David Grocott said today: "Our investment is good news for the local economy as the scheme will lead to the creation of job opportunities."
Chairman Ray Grocott said: "We currently employ about 280 staff but this expansion will create some new jobs.
"It's a bit early to say for certain but we think it will be about 10 or so new posts."
The news comes days after it emerged Grocontinental and other key employers in Whitchurch had voiced concerns over electricity supply problems in the town.
Businesses including Grocontinental said their expansion plans on the Waymills Industrial Estate were being hampered because the limited power supply was preventing them from growing.But now Grocontinental has secured permission to expand at one of its alternative sites on Shakespeare Way in Whitchurch Business Park.
As part of the plans an earth bank is also to be extended next to the A525 to provide screening from the road.
No objections were raised by Whitchurch Town Council but some objectors had raised concerns about drainage, the effect on wildlife, noise and light pollution and the height of the buildings.
Planners said there would be improved HGV access and increased movements would be no more than 20 per cent.
The scheme was granted permission subject to conditions.
By Tom Johannsen
