Grocontinental in jobs expansion hope

Two hundred and fifty jobs could be protected and 20 roles created at one of Shropshire's biggest employers after bosses unveiled fresh expansion plans.

Grocontinental has submitted an application to planners in a bid to extend its existing sub-zero and chill storage and distribution warehouse facility in Whitchurch.

It comes weeks after the family-run firm announced a separate £2.25 million investment in a new 40,000 sq ft warehouse which bosses said would create a "handful" of jobs.

The latest proposals submitted to Shropshire Council involve increasing the size of the development by 5,493 square metres.

Company bosses insist the scheme will give a confidence boost to the dairy warehousing sector in the UK which they say has declined in the past decade.

In a statement they say: "One of the objects of this development is to provide additional sub-zero and chill warehousing capacity together with additional blast freezing/defrosting facilities.

"The economic impacts/benefits of this facility must be recognised. These are not just the 250 persons employed directly by the facility, but also the farms suppliers, processors and associated businesses which service this site.

"The proposal to expand the existing facility will ensure that these jobs are safeguarded and result in a modern extended facility, which meets the needs of its customers, whilst also ensuring that the visual and residential amenities of the area are not compromised.

"It is envisaged that the proposed development could provide additional employment for up to 20 personnel.

"The increased warehousing capacity could generate up to 25 additional HGV visits per day of finished product to distribution centres located throughout the UK."

Plans include a tree planting scheme to minimise the visual impact of the development.

A new one-way system around the warehouse is also proposed.

Linda Grocott, joint managing director, said today: "This latest application is part of our future growth plans."

The public has until March 24 to comment on the plans.

By James Pugh