Car dealership still lying abandoned after its sudden closure two YEARS ago – as decision on new plans is delayed again
PLANS to turn a car dealership, left abandoned and empty for two years, into shops have been delayed once again.
The local council has been dragging its feet over a change of use application that is now two-years-old.
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A former Kia garage, the site on Stratford Road, Warwick, has been left abandoned since the dealerships sudden closure in 2023.
A change of use planning application for both units on the site was made in October 2023.
Planning documents said one unit would become a convenience shop and the other would be taken over by a small business.
Parking spaces and electric vehicle charging spaces were also planned for the site.
The plans for the site were due to go in front of Warwick District Council's planning committee in April but were withdrawn from the agenda.
They were then slated to go before the committee again on May 20 but were once again knocked back.
Plans were taken off the Tuesday meeting's agenda to "enable the applicant to clarify certain aspects of their proposal."
Planning officers had recommended the pans for refusal previously, raising concerns about parking.
The site has been left empty since April 2023 with a replacement Kia dealership opening up nearby in May 2023.
Plans to repurpose the abandoned site have hit several roadblocks with objections raised by locals.
The building has been floated on the market with property agent Bromwich Hardy.
It was listed for £1.1 million and boasted 9,200 sq ft which included two showrooms, a workshop and a tyre fitting bay.
As well as the publics objections to the recent plans for a change of use, Warwick Town Council submitted one.
The council had raised concerns of the safety of pedestrians with vehicles coming in and out of the site.
Why are so many car dealerships closing down?
By Summer Raemason
According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK.
The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships.
With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore.
Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared.
Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket.
Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors.
The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry.
A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars.
They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050.
The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals.
This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
Residents concerns with the plans ranged from opening hours to access safety to parking.
Issues were raised with what the second unit would become as well.
Plans suggested a hairdresser or a funeral parlour but no business was confirmed to be taking on the second unit.
Two councillors objected to the plans with one asking that the developer "considers installing bus shelters."
There were a total of 32 objections, including one duplicate, to the plans.
The majority raised similar issues with parking, safety and no need for more retail units being top concerns.
By comparison only 13 support comments were received, on being a duplicate.
Top factors sited by supporters were the support for the local economy and the provision of jobs.
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