Salop Leisure building “centre of excellence”
Shrewsbury-based caravan sales company Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury headquarters is due to start work on expanding their sales centre building in mid-April.
The contract for the work has been award to C21 Construction Ltd of Welshpool, who built Salop Leisure’s existing £5 million headquarters alongside Shrewsbury bypass at Emstrey traffic island when the company moved from Meole Brace four years ago.
Salop Leisure say that the expansion, which will increase the size of the company’s sales centre from 3,525 to 5,210 square metres, is designed to create a “centre of excellence” for the caravan industry and at least 18 new jobs. The company employs 140 staff.
The plans, designed by Harry Wilson, of Shrewsbury-based WDW chartered architects, include the creation of new vehicle access 100 metres further away from the Emstrey roundabout to improve traffic flow and road safety.
The expansion will also allow the company to create a new natural landscaped display area for caravans and to expand its showrooms, service facilities, workshops, offices and customer parking space. An external seating area for the company’s Love Coffee café and restaurant and an associated secure children’s play area are also planned.
Salop Leisure purchased 45 acres of land adjoining its headquarters 18 months ago, with view to future expansion to meet growing demand from customers, who are investing in holidays in the UK.
Managing director Mark Bebb said he was delighted to see the plans go into action. n”Our business enjoys a fantastic location just off Shrewsbury bypass and at the gateway to Wales. Due to the outstanding success of the business since we relocated in 2006, we urgently need to increase the size of our sales centre to meet customer demand. We firmly believe that demand for caravans and motorhomes is going to increase over the next decade, as more people opt to holiday in Britain instead of travelling abroad.”
Established in Shrewsbury 45 years ago, Salop Leisure also has sales centres in Machynlleth and Stourport.
