Plans approved for museum dedicated to businessman

The museum display includes cars, photographs and documents from Grocontinental's 76-year history

Plans have been approved to convert a Shropshire warehouse into a cafe and museum dedicated to Ray Grocott, a local businessman and philanthropist.

Grocott Developments Limited started work on the site in Brookdale, near Whitchurch, in October last year, and had applied for retrospective planning permission.

The site is set to be called the Grocott Heritage Centre, and already displays a collection of memorabilia from the Shropshire-based haulage company, Grocontinental.

Mr Grocott, who owned the firm, died last year aged 89.

The display includes items from across the firm's 76-year history, including vehicles and photographs.

“The applicants’ late father, Mr Ray Grocott, was instrumental in the growth and success of the family business," a planning statement reads, "several books have been written to recounting the history of the business and in turn the local community."

Shropshire Council planners said despite being in the open countryside, the conversion was acceptable because a principle use for the site had already been established.

The council's highways team said a reduction of commercial traffic to the former logistics base would have benefits for local road users.

“The proposed use as a heritage centre and ancillary cafe is [also] less likely to result in potential noise and disturbance to neighbouring properties,” it said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.