21-07-2025
‘Outstanding' UK car dealership to be BULLDOZED after 50 years of business under new plans
AN 'OUTSTANDING' car dealership is set to be bulldozed after serving customers for 50 years.
The space is expected to be completely transformed into a huge two-story shop.
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The former TDI Autos at 3-7 The Parade on the A127 is set to be demolished in the plans.
Locals said the garage had been "outstanding" before sadly closing after 50 years.
A new retail unit will be installed in the space, across a total of 538 square metres.
However, the type of shop moving into the space has not yet been revealed.
There will be a 'large commercial floor area', as well as a loading bay and a staff area - according to planning documents.
An internal staircase will lead shoppers to a mezzanine area and more retail floorspace.
According to planning documents drawn up by Spatial Design Architects, on behalf of the applicant GDI Developments LLP, the pre-application enquiry was submitted on November 2018.
After the initial enquiry, pre-application meetings were held with Transport for London (TfL) and planning officers throughout 2024.
Planning officers raised concerns about the site's location, saying it could cause 'noise and disturbance' on the already busy A127.
Havering Council also put forward a 'comprehensive redevelopment' of the site, which would have seen the neighbouring 1-2 location being regenerated.
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However, the planning statement says that this was not 'currently feasible' for the applicant.
TfL raised concerns to ensure that the network was not "compromised" during the planned window for the closure.
Spatial Design Architects said in its planning statement that all the concerns had been addressed and that the applicant has plans to ensure "minimal disruption" during construction.
Havering Council is expected to make a decision on the application by September 2.
Spatial Design Architects has been approached for comment by The Sun.
The news comes as car dealerships close their doors across the country, as manufacturers battle rising production costs and international tariffs.
With the rise in production costs, the price of buying a car has grown too - leading to declining sales.
Marshall Motor Group confirmed that 138 of its stores will close across the UK, after Stallantis UK - the owner of Peugeot and Vauxhall - terminated its contract with the brand.
Speaking to The Sun, a source said: 'Staff at all four branches have been told the exact same thing.
'There is a lot of purposefully confusing jargon being thrown around, but essentially they are not renewing the contracts with Stellantis.
'There are roughly 60 people at each location, so we're looking at dozens of jobs being put at risk.
'They didn't give staff any particular reason, it doesn't seem to make much sense to them.'
