STAFF from a Redditch car showroom have relocated out of the town to Solihull.

Some 21 staff members from Johnsons Volvo, which has been on the site in Redditch since 1984, have moved to the dealership's Highlands Road branch following the Clive Road site's closure on September 30.

These include service manager Nigel Moore, general sales manager Richard Thorpe and sales advisor Lynn Cook.

Earlier this year, controversial plans for the site were formally submitted to Redditch Borough Council.

Construction company McCarthy and Stone’s plans would see the site demolished making way for 45 retirement living apartments.

The application, which is recommended for approval, is set to go before council's planning meeting on Wednesday, November 9.

Speaking this week, a Redditch Borough Council spokesman, said: "The site is recommended for approval subject to a satisfactory 106 agreement."

Mark Perkins, franchise director for Johnsons Volvo said: "We’re delighted to be able to welcome the Redditch team to our Solihull site. They are a great team who have built an outstanding reputation for customer loyalty and satisfaction in the local area and they all bring a huge passion for the Volvo brand with them, too. Redditch customers can be assured that they will continue to enjoy the high levels of service they are used to receiving from the wider Johnsons team at our modernised showroom.

"The Solihull dealership was designed to facilitate a new level of customer experience and now the joining of the two teams will offer exciting new possibilities for the future as the Volvo range continues to grow." 

Existing Redditch customers continuing to use Johnsons for vehicle servicing there will be free collection and delivery of their vehicle.