Supermarket plan for former car showroom

Plans for the building, pictured in 2021, include a supermarket, cafe and extra parking

A vacant car rental and sales store in Leicester could be turned into a supermarket with a cafe.

The unit at 289 Blackbird Road has sat empty for a year, a planning application submitted to Leicester City Council stated.

Applicant Hitesh Ghelani did not reveal whether a possible occupier had been found but said he had encountered difficulties finding a new tenant in the vehicle sales and rental field.

He also said in his application that the site was “poor in quality” and in need of regeneration.

Jobs boost

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the application added work would be needed to turn the building into a supermarket if permission was granted.

This would include extensions at the front and back of the unit to create an entrance lobby, storage area and servicing bay.

Mr Ghelani said windows would need to be replaced and the brickwork repaired to “create an attractive storefront”.

A cafe area would also be created and the number of parking spaces would be increased to 57 from the current 15, according to the application.

Mr Ghelani said he expected 48 full-time equivalent jobs to be created across the store and the cafe if the scheme went ahead, including shop workers, delivery drivers, cleaners and security staff.

A public consultation on the plan will run until 27 September and residents can register their views via the Leicester City Council planning portal.

The authority is due to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission at a later date.

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