Village hardware store set to team up with Sainsbury’s (From Knutsford Guardian)

Village hardware store set to team up with Sainsbury’s

8:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

AN iconic shop which has been in the centre of Holmes Chapel for more than 100 years is set to join forces with a national supermarket chain.

Hardware and DIY store Morreys of Holmes Chapel, based on The Square, has teamed up with Sainsbury’s, which will see – subject to planning – a small ‘Local’ convenience store open in the unit.

But the planning application will be for two units – one of which gives the opportunity for Morreys to continue trading in a ‘tailor-made’, open-plan unit.

The new Sainsbury’s will retain the Morreys shop frontage, and according to the plans will ‘reflect the building's position within the conservation area’. The car park at the rear will also be retained and improved for use by visitors to the village centre and the general public.

The plans have come about after David Morrey decided to put his retirement plan in place and restructure the business for the next incumbent.

He said: “We approached several retailers and developers once we had made the decision to retire, and after careful consideration we chose to work with Sainsbury’s to provide flexibility for the future of the business as well as providing a first-class shopping attraction for Holmes Chapel.

“The proposal will allow future investment in the site and means that the Morreys name remains within the village.”

Paul Smith, from Sainsbury’s, said: “Sainsbury’s sees the opening of a new store in Holmes Chapel as an opportunity to complement the existing shops in the village.

“The proposals allow us to secure the continued use of the premises for retail purposes that sit in a highly-visible, key location in the village.

“Sainsbury’s always works hard with local traders, and our stores can help to keep high street locations vibrant.”

It is proposed that the new shop would create between 20 and 25 full and part- time jobs.