Shoppers at a Morrisons supermarket in Telford will continue to have access to self-service laundry facilities after planners approved the continued installation of the machines at the site.The decision follows an initial temporary permission granted last year to assess the impact of the facility. Planning officers have now approved the retrospective application, allowing the launderette unit to remain in place subject to specified conditions.
The laundry unit is located outside the Morrisons store in Lawley, Telford, where customers can wash and dry clothes while shopping. According to the planning decision reported by the Shropshire Star, the approval marks the latest stage in the site’s planning process after a one-year trial period.
The development also comes as self-service laundry facilities continue to appear at major supermarket locations across the UK through partnerships with specialist operator ME Group International.
Planning Approval Follows One-Year Trial at Lawley Store
According to the source, ME Group International applied for planning permission for the installation of a self-service launderette facility and associated works at the Morrisons supermarket in Lawley, Telford. In July 2025, Telford and Wrekin Council granted temporary planning permission for one year in order to assess the impact of the installation.
The unit, positioned next to the supermarket’s front entrance, contains three machines: two washing machines and one tumble dryer. Following the temporary approval, a retrospective planning application was submitted to allow the installation to remain on site.
Planning documents state that the machines are required to be switched off between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am. According to the information provided by agents acting for ME Group International, the equipment is designed to operate with minimal maintenance. The company also told planners that it is supported by a network of more than 150 local engineers, who aim to attend breakdowns within 24 hours and carry out scheduled monthly maintenance visits. Planning officers have now granted retrospective permission for the facility, subject to compliance with the planning conditions attached to the approval.
Supermarket Laundry Partnerships Continue to Expand
The Morrisons decision comes after a separate rollout of similar facilities at Asda stores earlier this year. According to the Express, Asda announced a partnership with ME Group International to install 700 self-service laundry machines across various locations.
The retailer said the energy-efficient, high-speed drying machines are designed to handle both smaller loads and larger household washes, with the facilities operating 24 hours a day.
Speaking at the time of the announcement, Joseph Sutton, Vice-President for Asda Express, Foodservice and Fuel, said the company was looking for additional ways to make shopping more convenient by expanding the range of services available at its stores. He said the rollout of Wash.ME units would provide customers with a quick and convenient option to complete laundry while shopping and described the partnership with ME Group International as a significant development for the retailer.
The approval for the Morrisons site means customers at the Lawley supermarket will continue to have access to the self-service launderette following the completion of the council’s assessment period, with the facility remaining in operation under the conditions set out in the planning permission.
