Shrewsbury developer to build workshop alongside new car dealership
Building contractor Morris Property has won a second contract with car retailer Evans Halshaw to build a workshop next to a new dealership that is appearing in Shrewsbury.
Evans Halshaw bought a 1.5-acre site at Battlefield in July, where Shrewsbury-based Morris is now developing a dealership for its Car Store used motors brand.
Now Evans Halshaw has announced it will also build a workshop, service and after sales centre on the site, with Morris once again picking up the contract.
The extra site will be slightly away from the dealership itself. While the forecourt will be at King's Park, next to the Rural Enterprise Centre in Knights Way, the workshop will be between the Food Enterprise Centre and the Mercedes Benz dealership in Vanguard Way.
Carl Kendall, head of implementation for Evans Halshaw Car Store, said: “Our new Aftersales Centre in Shrewsbury is being developed to support our new car store showroom which we anticipate will be open in early January 2018.
“Shrewsbury is an exciting marketplace for us where we anticipate we will be preparing and selling circa 300 cars per month from the new facilities.
"Across all areas of the business we are looking to employ 40 to 45 new team members who are as driven to succeed as we are.
“By bringing our Evans Halshaw Car Store concept to the town we will be able to expand our choice and convenience into a new market where today our group has no representation.”
The workshop will be about 800 sq m, and will allow Evans Halshaw to prepare cars before moving them to the forecourt. It will include a valet and MOT bay plus ramps and a spray booth.
Morris will also build space at the depot for offices, a reception, a canteen and external compound with car parking.
Steve Flavell, construction manager at Morris Property said: “Working collaboratively with the client and their architect at the beginning of this project has challenged us to think differently and adapt to the changing needs of the build.
"For example we have had to adjust the plans to install chimneys, ensuring that there is a sufficient air filtering system in place for the spray booth.”
The project is expected to take about six months, with completion scheduled for next spring. Morris started work on the showroom in August, and it should be finished early in the new year.
