New Shrewsbury food store plan could create 80 jobs
Up to 80 jobs could be created under plans for a new out-of-town supermarket in Shrewsbury.
The owners of Meole Brace Retail Park have submitted plans to demolish units currently occupied by Blockbusters and Carphone Warehouse and transform them into one large food store.
Bosses at the park were tight-lipped about who would take over the proposed 21,000 sq ft store but confirmed it would be a 'significant' national supermarket chain.
It comes despite plans already being put forward for a new restaurant on the same site – and bosses at the retail park are currently open-minded about which project will get the go-ahead.
Steve Spray, director of Lasalle Investment Management which acts on behalf of retail park owners Coal Pension Properties Ltd, said: "Subject to planning approval the supermarket would be taken over by quite a significant national retailer and would create about 80 jobs.
"The food store will be quite a lot smaller than the Sainsbury's store on the retail park, but we think another food store would make the rest of the retail park more attractive."
The proposals would see the two existing units demolished and an extra 22 car parking spaces created. Under the plans, Carphone Warehouse would move to a different part of the retail park. The future of Blockbusters remains uncertain after the national chain went into administration in January.
It was believed national restaurant chains Frankie and Benny's or Harvester would run the planned restaurant on the same plot of land – creating about 30 jobs.
Mr Spray said either venture could still go ahead depending on interest from potential clients.
"The restaurant application is going to be considered quite soon. We have potential occupiers for both these developments and it will depend on which one we manage to agree terms with."
A retail study submitted on behalf of developers said the proposals would not have impact on the town centre.
He said: "The retail impact assessment demonstrates that the proposals will not be competing with retailers in the town centre and competition for convenience goods market share is largely between out of centre stores."
Public consultation on the proposals will end on May 21. For more information visit www.shropshire.gov.uk
