New convenience store in old Pedigreed garage approved by Moray Council
A LONG-vacant Forres garage will house a new convenience store, after plans were approved by Moray Council last week.
One of four businesses approved for the old Pedigreed Cars premises on Bogton Place, works to turn the showroom into a Premier-branded shop were agreed as part of the application.
The store will be operated by Arul Palaniappan, who owns the Bishopmill and New Elgin petrol stations in Elgin.
Images from Rothes architect firm S Reid Design show the current garage with new cladding installed and with signs displaying the Premier logo.
A red Post Office sign is also visible in the plans, along with details of the shop’s potential 6am to 10pm opening hours.
The other businesses mentioned in plans are: Mr Moto, a motorcycle firm already based in the garage, a classic car hire company; and a hairdresser based on the grounds in a trailer.
An earlier bid for plans to include hot food sales were dropped after they were rejected by Moray Council.
Until Mr Moto moved in to the garage last year, the site had lain empty since the business was closed.
However, since purchasing by husband and wife Liam and Eileen Wood in 2021, the large space has been redeveloped into smaller units.
Elgin estate agent CCL Property helped to arrange the deal by marketing the site and acting as the owners’ agent.
David Pickering, director at CCL, praised Mr Palaniappan’s successful history of running retail premises in Moray.
Local produce would be a focus for the new shop, he said, along with an “excellent level of customer service and an excellent reputation”.
“The key thing is that it is a really experienced operator,” he added.
“I have seen what Arul and his team have done with the Bishopmill Service Station, which used to be the Buccaneer, and has been transformed into something exceptionally well-performing.”
Mr Pickering also said the site’s multi-business approach had turned it into a “mini retail park”, which appealed to prospective tenants.
“It’s great to see an empty unit, which has been vacant for many, many years, being filled,” he said.
“The owners of the site have subdivided it into lots of different units, so it’s like a mini retail park.
“It’s quite vibrant now — there is a hairdresser, a motorbike garage, and a charity car wash at the back.
“A lot of these older buildings are just too large, so coming in and subdividing them is the key to getting tenants in.
“The owners have been very canny and already, in a short time, have got folk into this site which has been empty for so many years.”
In total, the planned units will have more than 20 parking spaces for the public and staff and nine parking spaces for motorbikes.
Plans will also include a footpath to maintain access between St Catherine’s Road and Nairn Road.
An electric car charging station, with space for two cars, is also included in plans.
The decision comes 30 years after a bid to demolish the car dealership to build a supermarket, which was refused in 1994.
