Up to 140 new jobs could be created in Shrewsbury under multi-million pound plans to transform a town centre car park, it was revealed today.

Morris Property, which owns Barker Street car park, has unveiled proposals to build a four-storey development at the site including a supermarket and chemist, a new medical centre for the Riverside Medical Practice, a Primary Care Trust unit and five apartments.

Claremont Baptist Church will be bulldozed but will retain its existing facade under a land-swop deal which will involve the creation of a new church building.

The joint planning application between Morris and the church will be submitted to planners later this week.

Steve Barnwell, from the church, said: “In return for a small amount of land at the rear of the church, they will renovate and restore our building to create a modern flexible space to enable our congregation to continue their Christian worship and witness in the centre of Shrewsbury.”

The scheme will include retail on the ground floor, including a convenience store and chemist, a medical centre on part of the ground, first and second floors and complementary PCT services on the third floor. The five apartments will be located on the fourth floor.

Robin Morris, Morris director, said: “The development will provide much needed space for the Riverside Medical Practice and the PCT.

“The proposed development could potentially bring 140 jobs to Shrewsbury when the scheme is complete and support hundreds of workers in the construction industry.”