SCREWFIX has been told its plan to open a new shop in Herefordshire needs more thought.

The Hereford Times previously reported how the chain with 800 shops nationwide wanted to open in Bromyard's Station Industrial Estate.

Recruitment has also started, and the DIY chain, owned by Kingfisher PLC which also owns B&Q, has applied for planning permission to turn an industrial estate unit into a shop.

There would be four car parking spaces at the shop, one of which would be disabled, if Herefordshire Council planners grant permission, and lorries would enter the industrial estate from Stourport Road and deliver to the back of the unit.

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But Herefordshire Council's transport department said more detail was needed about the plans.

It said the proposed site is constrained because of the width of local roads, parking availability at the shop and extent of space available for manoeuvrability.

So the department said it wanted more detail about the types of lorries that will deliver to the shop and where they will park, how and where customers will pick up large or bulky items and information about cycle parking.

It also said detail was needed on overflow and staff parking, adding that the planned number of spaces, four, "appears to be very low".

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Screwfix said there would be about 38 trips to the site every day and during peak morning and afternoon periods, the development is expected to generate one trip every 10 or so minutes.

In the documents, Screwfix said 12 new jobs would be created if the shop opened – with the firm saying it could be later this year. Four of those will be full-time, and an average of three lorries will visit the site to make deliveries in a normal week, it said.

The chain applied for planning permission to change the use of Unit 1a to Class B8 (storage or distribution), and make external alterations, such as blocking up a window and changing the doors.

Comments on application 222691 can be made until September 29.