Acorn plans for new Kia dealership in St Helens

Planning consent is being sought to use an empty St Helens retail warehouse as an Acorn Motor Group Kia dealership.

A design and access statement in the plans, prepared by Leach Rhodes Walker, says: "Acorn Motor Group are in the process of acquiring the premises and wish to convert the existing building and create a Kia dealership on the site".

It adds: "The existing store occupies a prime town centre location on the A571, boasting prominent visibility to motorists and shoppers passing by. It presents a promising opportunity to be transformed into a high-quality landmark site.

Proposed works include to strip out of the existing shop fittings and the splitting of the internal space to form a showroom and ancillary valeting and MOT workshop at the ground floor, with associated office space formed on the existing mezzanine. The stockrooms will be used for parts storage and there will be re-cladding of the external elevations.

The application states the proposed dealership would create 15 full-time and five part-time jobs.