HORSHAM businesses have steadily expanded their offering and filled vacant shops in the central business district across the past year.
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Wimmera Valuation Services property valuer and consultant Graham Gerlach said business development occurred in cycles and he had noticed a steady increase in business in Horsham.
During the 2015-16 financial year, Horsham Rural City Council issued 43 new industrial and commercial permits with a development cost of $26,489,695 compared to 2016-17 when the council issued 56 permits with a development cost of $28,792,299 – almost a 30 per cent increase in the number of permits.
“Over four years, there was an average of 52 permits,” Mr Gerlach said.
Mr Gerlach said the central business district in Horsham was unique because people could walk from one end to the other easily.
He said there was once a big concern particularly in Hamilton Street when Dick Smith closed its doors, but he highlighted the opening of headspace and Cellarbrations within the past year.
Priceline Pharmacy in Darlot Street is one business that expanded its work space by about 25 per cent, adding 10 square metres to the store.
The renovations finished in November and co-owner Stuart Hall said the store recorded a strong trade during December.
“We had a better Christmas than last year but I suppose we’re expecting the benefits from the expansion to show over the long term,” he said.
The organisation redeveloped a building at the top end of Firebrace Street, turning it into a modernised business headquarters for the employment agency.
This redevelopment transformed formerly vacant stores.
Morrow Motor Group owner Gavin Morrow said the business had its second best year in 10 years in 2017.
“I think it is on the back of the good harvest season from (2016-17),” he said.
Mr Morrow said he saw an increase in both new and used car sales.
“We sold 41 more new cars in 2017 than we did in 2016,” he said. “It was more or less identical for used cars. We sold one more used car in 2017 than we did in 2016.”
More business movement is due in Horsham early this year with an On The Run service station moving into the premises on the corner of Wilson Street and Darlot Street.
Morrow Motor Group plans to create a larger showroom space and car parks for customers while Middy’s Data and Electrical is moving from Urquhart Street to McPherson Street.
