Fire damaged building gets new life as funeral home

Shropshire Council has granted permission to local funeral directors to take over a former heating showroom that was destroyed by a fire, and turn it into a funeral home.

Aubrey Kirkham Funeral Directors will add the former Mullins Heating showroom to its portfolio, to join its stable of branches in Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Four Crosses.

The premises, which have been vacant since May 2011, will house a reception room and storage facilities and have enough space for three family rooms. 

Original plans for the site to be turned into a convenience store were objected to by locals, who complained that it would cause anti-social behaviour.

Council officer Tim Rogers said: “The proposed change of use will represent a sustainable form of economic development that will also safeguard residential and local amenity.”