Plan to turn former Waitrose in Shrewsbury town centre into car showroom gets early backing
Plans to turn an empty Shrewsbury shop into a car showroom have been given a conditional thumbs up by the town council ahead of a final decision by county planners.
Applicants Greenhous Group wants to convert a portion of the former Waitrose supermarket building at 27B Pride Hill into a shop front for the company’s electric vehicle sales operation.
The company says the proposal would create one full-time and two part-time jobs at the store.
The scheme would see a large sliding door installed in place of the existing shop front to allow vehicle access for the 87 square metre showroom, and replacement signage for the shop in company colour schemes of green and grey.
On Tuesday, Shrewsbury Town Council’s planning committee raised no objections with the proposal, other than a suggestion to provide a dropped kerb for vehicle movements, which will be decided by county planners at a later date.
In a supporting statement, the company said the plan would support the company’s operations by providing them with a town centre presence.
“It is important to note that the service offered at the site will be different to that previously associated with car showrooms,” they said.
“Firstly the vehicles promoted will be electric only. Secondly, whilst vehicles will be available to view, nothing will physically be sold in the showroom.
“It will however be used to offer a professional, non pressurised customer experience and make life easier for local consumers to book services such as test drives, vehicle viewings, annual maintenance and servicing, MOT’s, winter checks, summer checks, valets and to speak to experts regarding service plans, the products the company provides as well as offering advice on electrification and free no obligation valuations on the consumer’s current vehicle.”
The store has been empty since Waitrose moved out in 2020, with high street baking chain Greggs moving in to part of the unit facing Pride Hill.
A comment from Shropshire Council’s conservation team said while they have no objection in principle, the proposed illuminated signage scheme facing the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church may cause a potential snag with the proposal.
“There is no objection to the text lettering or sign panel colour finish indicated in the drawings. There is however no need for this sign to be illuminated and we would recommend the sign details are amended to remove the illumination element from the proposal,” they said.
The scheme will be decided by Shropshire Council in due course.
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