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Search the Public Notice PortalWORK to repurpose a large former car dealership in Taunton is now underway.
The old Rowcliffes site at the bottom of East Reach, Taunton, is being turned into a new retail space after being granted conditional approval from Somerset Council.
The site, on East Reach, has remained vacant since it closed in June 2023.
READ MORE: Former Taunton Rowcliffes site could turn into Salvation Army centre
READ MORE: Demolition works well underway at former Taunton garage
Ware Construction contractors are now working on the building and its surrounding area.
Signage has been put up on marked fencing surrounding the dealership, informing all visitors and delivery drivers to report to the site office before entering the construction area. There is no unauthorised entry to this area.
Earlier this year, a planning application was submitted for the change of use of the former Vauxhall car dealership on 78-88 East Reach. The Salvation Army Trading Company Limited (SATCoL) are proposing to occupy the 1.4-acre site and use it as a donation centre.
The planned Salvation Army centre could include a shopping area selling furniture, homeware, electricals and clothing, a donation and sorting area, and a social area - which will be used for a repair club offering customers the opportunity to repair existing goods which may have become faulty.
Fitting out works were due to begin once planning permission has been secured, with it hoped that the store would open in late 2025; however, this may not happen as the works have only just started (November 2025).
In line with the environmental ambitions of both the landlord and proposed tenant, the existing buildings would be retained and would be repaired and restored where necessary - there has been no mention of any demolition work on the site.
David Malcolm, the Rowcliffes group general manager, confirmed in 2023 that Rowcliffes would continue to operate at its sites in Walton, Street, and Summerhouse Terrace in Yeovil despite this closure in Taunton.
To find out more about this new planned retail space, you can view the planning submission in full via the Somerset Council planning portal with the reference number 38/25/0048.
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