Auction company Aston Barclay is set to double the capacity of its Prees Heath site to 20,000 vehicles per annum this year.

The firm has received planning permission for its £1 million scheme which will more than double the size of its current site in Whitchurch, Shropshire, to seven acres.

Nine jobs will also be created by the project, which will be up-and-running by April.

David Scarborough, Aston Barclay’s national sales director, said: “Prees Heath has been growing as both a fleet and dealer part exchange auction since general manager Lisa Grimsley took over the site 12 months ago. 

“New buyers are coming in from the north west and Wales and new vendors who have tried out the site are now regularly entering cars for sale.

“This new investment will transform Prees Heath and strengthens our presence in the north.

Further investment in our Westbury and Chelmsford sites will also improve services for fleet and dealer vendors within the Aston Barclay group.”

A second weekly sale is being planned for fleet and dealer vendors.