Waitrose plans new store at Percy Thrower's Garden Centre site

A multi-million pound Waitrose supermarket could be built in Shrewsbury under plans to snap up land at a garden centre.

The chain, which opened its first convenience store in the town last week, said it was in advanced talks with Percy Thrower's Garden and Leisure store in Oteley Road, Meole Brace.

Under the plans Waitrose would buy the garden centre to make way for a supermarket while bosses at Percy Thrower's would receive cash to build a garden centre at an adjoining site.

A spokesman for Waitrose, which is owned by the John Lewis Partnership, confirmed yesterday that they were hoping to open another venture in the town.

He said: "Garden & Leisure Ltd and Waitrose are in discussions to redevelop the existing garden centre in Oteley Road, which would bring new investment and a significant number of new jobs to the town.

"The proposal will include a new state-of- the-art Percy Thrower's garden centre and a new neighbourhood centre anchored by a Waitrose food store designed to complement our new convenience store which opened last week in Pride Hill. We are continuing to develop plans so we can bring them forward and give the local community the opportunity to provide their feedback."

Carol Paris, operations director of Garden & Leisure, which owns the Percy Thrower's garden centre, today said it was "exciting" news but said final arrangements still needed to be drawn up.

She said: "We have been in discussions with Waitrose regarding a proposed new state-of-the-art garden centre for some time and they want to develop a supermarket as well.

"Nothing at this stage has been finalised and nothing is signed yet but we are in discussions with them and have been for a while.

"It will still be subject to planning and finalising an agreement. We would remain on the same site although not exactly the same footprint. We are very excited about it and would be delighted to be in partnership with Waitrose."