Town Shops work set up to start in 2007

Construction on a £100 million scheme for a super-store, shops and leisure facilities in West Bromwich town centre can start next year. Developers on the Tesco-led plan expect to see it open in 2009.

This follows the news yesterday that the Government had approved Sandwell Council's compulsory purchase order for the scheme, which will have a Tesco Extra superstore as the main feature. Government approval means work can go ahead with the closure and demolition of the town's police station, the B&Q store and the Cronehills Junior School.

Sandwell's cabinet, member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Bob Badham, said that the approval of the CPO scheme would enable work to get under way in 2007. Around 1,500 jobs have been promised out of the development.

"The council has worked hard to turn this project into reality and it will give West Bromwich state-of-the-art facilities to compete with the best in the region," he said.

"Apart from greatly improving the variety and quality of shopping on offer in West Bromwich, it will also deliver a range of other benefits.

"These include new and improved infrastructure, a newly aligned road, newly configured town centre parking and a newly accommodated police station and school."

Source: Express & Star