40 jobs were created after the opening of a childcare group in Shrewsbury. Kids Planet acquired the lease of the former Chiquitos restaurant near KFC on Battlefield Road in Harlescott. The business was launched in 2008 by Clare Roberts and her father, John Hoban.
The group supports 65 nurseries in the UK, providing services to more than 9,000 children, and ranked first in the 2021 nursery quality rankings. The new nursery in Shrewsbury created 40 new jobs in the local area and as Clare said the size and location of the battlefield building are key factors in deciding to lease the building.
The property is located in an excellent location on the city's outskirts, easily accessible via the excellent road network nearby. It will be ideal for people travelling to and from Shrewsbury or Telford.
“We can accommodate 120 places for babies through to pre-school age, and the adaptable single-storey floor space has meant we have been able to fit out the nursery to our exact specifications. This includes the development of a sensory room, wrap-around outdoor play areas and age-specific rooms.“There is plenty of parking spaces too, which will ensure children can be dropped off and collected from the nursery with ease.”
Last year, after The Restaurant Group's Chiquitos restaurant closed, David Grocott and Linda Grocott, directors of the Grocott Group based in Prees, acquired the building. They joined Claire at the official opening ceremony of the nursery.
