Sainsbury's promising 70 jobs at Shrewsbury store

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has lodged major plans for its Shrewsbury store which will create up to 70 jobs.

Plans to expand the store in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, include creating a first floor mezzanine level, an enlarged petrol station with extra fuel pumps and a car wash, a new cafe and extra parking spaces.

In response to public consultation additional bicycle parking slots have also been included in the plans along with a more expansive entrance to the site allowing extra lanes for traffic.

Amy Kershaw, a spokesperson for Turley Associates - the company in charge of designing the project, said the plans had been submitted to Shropshire Council and people could see them on the authority's website.

She said: "After the public consultation a number of changes have been made to the design. More bicycle parking spaces have been provided due to public demand.

"Designers have also looked at the road layout at the entrance of the site. People had asked for the entrance to be looked at and access has been improved with more lanes coming into the car park.

"The customer cafe will now be on the mezzanine level. There will also be more car parking spaces and a new petrol station."

An improved road layout is expected to reduce traffic jams on the retail park and the proposals include an 18,000sq ft extension to the right hand side of the existing store, currently used largely for storing trolleys.

Christian Wakelin, Sainsbury's development executive, said the proposed extension would improve the shopping experience for customers at Shrewsbury.

There will also be an improved product range and store layout, and more checkouts.