Severn Hospice planning new furniture superstore

The Dulux Decorating Centre, formerly S J Dixon & Son at Beacalls Lane, off New Park Road, Castlefields, closed a number of years ago and local residents were concerned the site could be developed for housing.

However, plans have now been lodged with Shropshire Council by bosses at the Severn Hospice to use the building to receive new and second-hand furniture and household goods on a charitable basis, and these will be re-sold to the public.

In a letter to Shropshire Council, Clive Roberts, acting on behalf of the charity said: “The hospice needs to be close to the town centre because many of its customers will arrive on foot after usinghaving made use of public transport. The location of the building is also appropriate because the charity believe a good deal of their trade will be to the local community, and they will almost certainly arrive and depart on foot.

“It also needs a large area in which to display the goods that are donated, as many are bulky. Finding a large floorspace in the town centre at a rent that will reflect the purpose intended and which the charity can sensibly pay, is extremely difficult.

“A location on an out-of-centre industrial estate would make access difficult for many of the prospective customers, and in any event, would probably not gain planning permission.

“The use proposed will be of significant benefit to the community in providing household goods for people who are unable to fund such purchases in town centre shops. The venture, then, is a matter of helping to support a sustainable community.”

Ross Henderson, head of retail at Severn Hospice, said: “We are very excited about the prospect of opening what would be a first for us – a superstore. It would be a real flagship to add to our portfolio of shops but we’re not quite there yet. As well as planning permission for the premises, we need to finalise all the legal paperwork.

“We are a charity and are always looking at ways we can improve our fundraising. The proposed new store will let us put in one place everything our supporters love about our existing shops and furniture store, but on a much larger scale. Supporters of our shops and furniture store contribute around £1 million a year to us and adding a superstore to the mix will be a real bonus.

“The way we provide our care has changed over the years – we care for more people at home today than we do in our wards. Just as the nature of hospice care has evolved to meet patients’ needs, so must our offer to people who want to support us.

“We been looking at possible sites for a new superstore for some time and the old Dulux building fits our criteria perfectly. We are now working hard to make it happen in the coming months.”

The application will now go before Shropshire planners. Council’s planning committee at a date to be set.