Supermarket unveils plans for expansion
Friday 12th February 2010, 8:07AM GMT.
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has unveiled plans to expand its store in Shrewsbury’s Meole Brace, creating up to 70 jobs.
The plans include creating a first floor mezzanine level, an enlarged petrol station with extra fuel pumps and car wash, a new cafe, and the possibility of 100 extra parking spaces.
The plans also include an improved road layout to reduce traffic jams on the retail park and an 18,000sq ft extension to the right hand side of the existing store, currently used largely for storing trolleys.
Christian Wakelin, Sainsbury’s development executive, said: “Sainsbury’s proposed extension will improve the shopping experience for customers at Shrewsbury.
“The plans will be on display in the store and we hope residents will drop in to submit their views, which will be considered as part of the public consultation.”
The customer cafe would be moved to a new first floor mezzanine level, reached by lifts, stairs and “travelators”.
There would be a new customer entrance, an improved and wider product range and store layout, and more checkouts.
In a statement, Sainsbury’s added: “The store extension will create up to 70 new full and part-time job opportunities and we will work closely with the local job centre to ensure local people fill these positions.”
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after tesco did so illegally i would hope our planners would say no to defend retail in the town centre, we should not buy everything from one store, we should shop around and support small little retailers in the heart of town
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whether or not this plan goes ahead the improvement in traffic flow should be mandatory – the tailbacks and congestion generated by the retail park are a real problem
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Well thanks “jonno k” but i’d actually like to buy my stuff at one store, it’s my choice not yours!
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How about some competition for sainsburys on the retail park,they have a monopoly this end of town!
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Excellent news,i drive straight past my local shops just to buy a newspaper from Sainsburys,now i will have even more choice.Local shops should be completely abolished.Sainsburys has everything in one convenient location.Bring on the Nectar Points.
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As far as the argument of ‘we should be shopping with local small retailers’ goes – customers shop with their feet and Sainsburys is only satisfying the demand for its services. I was in there yesterday thinking that it could do with being reamped/enlarged and then saw this today – great news and hopefully the traffic congestion will be improved.
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whats wrong with a bit of expansion when its clearly satiisfying customer demand???
I dont like tesco therefore choose to not go there, i like sainsburys and will continue to shop there, i also like tiny shops and then go into town for them too!!
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i shop there and its great news its going to be easier to get in there
the road there now has the worst pot holes in the county!!!!
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Expansion-Great, but will it mean that they will buy more delivery vans and start delivering to the SY4 area
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In reply to Jonno k who says we should all use the small shops, I would say try shopping for a family of 4 getting enough to last the week.Meat at one, veg at another, cleaning items at yet another etc. etc. It would be a long walk with many heavy bags. Compare that to the simplicity of using the BIG boys. Added to this is the fact that the big retailers are cheaper, so, no wonder people prefer them. You’ve obviously never been serious shopping Jonno. Try it, see you in Tescos.
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and how long before the moaning starts that the town centre is dead, and the jobs have gone, still who cares as long as it’s cheap…..
Sainsbury, keeping the riff raff out of Waitrose
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With the proposed extra parking spaces not sure how this would effect football parking. It should be approved and allow football parking or it should be rejected for the same reason that football parking is disapproved of. This is either an opportunity to reconsider football parking or treat motorists the same whether shoppers or football supports.
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great news for lazy me, sorry for the town centre retailers
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Shrewsbury town retail stores should be converted to cheap housing and flats and all shopping done at Sainsbury and Tesco. Well done Council officials keep giving them planning permission.
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people need to practice what they preach i agree, i do shop in town, but i also love sainsbury, you can taste the difference and they have a very good recycling area too
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i agree with the posts about the footie club, sensbile to minimise traffic as it may be there is about 1000 space park and ride they should operate it for the club matches make some money and keep my council tax down!
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HONESTLY!!! Bigger picture – people get a grip – embrace a large retailler spending money on shrewsbury rather than another area – the more spent by a large chain attracts more money jobs etc…. or they could do telford instead and you wouldnt like that would you!!!
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i think its good news, the town cetnre can still get by on coffee shops posh nosh etc but real day to day food shopping you need to drive, park and get budget value so there is room for both
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