A major tyre retailer is setting up a depot in Grantham.

Ripley-based Eden Tyre sales plans to open in August and is already recruiting for the six staff that would be employed.

The company has just gained planning approval from South Kesteven District Council to convert a former Kawasaki dealership on Harlaxton Road for the new venture.

The former premises, which currently lay empty, would feature tyre fitting, MOT's, vehicle servicing with ancillary workshop and sales, plus external alternations and replacement signage.

The change of use application follows the Kawasaki dealership moving to a new site further east of Harlaxton Road.

The site now owned by Eden Tyres lies adjacent to the existing Grantham fire station on the A607 Harlaxton Road, and also close to the new Aldi, currently under construction.

Before its use as a Kawasaki dealership, the site was used as a used car dealership (Woodward's Car Sales) which operated for some time before 2012 and was originally a Vauxhall dealership.

The application to South Kesteven District Council said Eden Tyres sought to make an existing workshop bigger to increase its size from 153m2 to 470m2 by using existing retail space.

A former cafe would be converted into the reception area (public space) which is where customers will enter and exit the building. This would provide customer a safe place to wait while their car is being serviced or having tyres changed.

The reception area will also be served by a disabled access W/C and viewing cameras that allow

customers to check on their car during the M.O.T process. The application added: "In conclusion, the proposed change of use and redevelopment of the building makes use of a disused brownfield site without any demolition and minimal works. "The new owners already own a prosperous range of similar business outlets which promises great potential for the new site to be an asset to the town of Grantham." Assessing the application, SKDC planning staff reported they had received three letters from residents following consultation about the application. They raised issues with parking, extra traffic, noise, waste collections and impact on the character of the area. However, planning staff said the change of use would be little different to the previous use, so the application from Eden Tyres met a range of national and local planning policies and should be approved.