Tesco drops bid for store

Supermarket giant Tesco has ditched its decade-long battle to build a store in Stourbridge.

Bosses have withdrawn from a lengthy fight against Dudley Council's decision to block plans for a huge 65,000 sq ft store outside the ring road on the Angel Triangle site.

They say they want to focus instead on opening a store in the Crown Centre.

Last year's controversial proposal was the latest in a series of bids by the firm to build a store on the land. Plans for the development have been under discussion for nearly 10 years.

A public inquiry over the battle was scheduled to begin next March.

But the supermarket giant today announced it had decided to pull out of the appeal saying there was now a "real possibility" of a deal being done on the Crown Centre scheme.

Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Stourbridge, said: "It is well-known that Tesco have wanted a store in Stourbridge for some time.

"Now the Crown Centre development looks a real possibility we are withdrawing our appeal against Dudley Council's decision regarding the Angel Triangle site.''

He said discussions with both centre owners Modus and Dudley Council continue with a view to delivering a quality store for Stourbridge.

No decision had yet been made about the future of the Angel Triangle site, he said.

"A review will be held in the New Year over the site. No decision has been made and will not be until the review has been completed."

David Harcourt, chairman of Stourbridge chamber of trade's events committee, said that if Tesco was to concentrate on the Crown Centre site it was "the better result for the town".

He said: "The Crown Centre development will be very welcome indeed."