PERMISSION has been granted to demolish a hand car wash and create a retail unit in its place.

Proposals for the new retail unit on the car wash site at Chain Lane Shopping Precinct were submitted by London and Cambridge Properties.

Planning officers at St Helens Council have given plans for the 465sqm retail unit the nod.

The planning application stated: the "building is designed as a simple contemporary addition to the area, which will harmonise with the existing precinct but will provide an ‘end cap’ to the parade of shops".

It will be constructed of "brick external walls with glazing to the main façade" and a mono pitched roof.

The public entrance to the proposed retail unit would be from the existing car park to the front of the site.

Proposals added it is considered "that the replacement of the garage/car wash with a new, modern purpose built retail unit, along with some new paving, would be a huge improvement on the environmental quality of the local centre".