Before building work started
A chain of pet and garden stores has shown its commitment to high-street retailing by relocating one of its shops into the centre of a Norfolk town.
Myhill’s Pet and Garden has outgrown its current site in Attleborough and has started work on a much bigger building in the high street. It hopes to open the 6,500 square feet store next spring.
“Myhill’s feels it is making a commitment to both high-street shopping and Norfolk’s market towns despite the increase in online shopping and the current coronavirus situation,” said director Roy Hagan. “We feel the new store will be a positive contribution to retaining customers within Attleborough as a benefit for the whole town.”
Myhill’s Pet and Garden is Norfolk’s oldest chain of pet and garden shops, opening its first branch in Wymondham in 1936. As well as its stores in Attleborough and Wymondham, it has branches at Dereham, Diss, Swaffham and Watton.
The company has been actively looking for larger premises in Attleborough for the past few years.
“We discovered a development site behind the town’s old post office,” added Roy. “The company took a calculated gamble of buying the site despite the fact it had planning permission for 10 flats.”
“We believed the town would be better served if the site was developed for retail purposes rather than residential. We went ahead with the purchase around 18 months ago in the belief that permission for a new retail store could hopefully be gained.”
Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2019 and after some delays, partly due to covid-19 restrictions, permission was finally granted in July this year.
Since then progress has been rapid with local companies working hard to ensure the project remains on schedule for its spring 2021 launch.
All existing staff will transfer to the new shop, which will also create an extra four permanent positions.
Access to bulkier items such as pet food and compost had always been a problem at the old shop but will be made easier at the new store with the introduction of customer collection parking bays. Myhill’s will also continue to offer its local delivery service.
Building work starts