Free staff car park at HQ of West Brom
A free car park with space for around 280 staff will be built at the new headquarters of the West Bromwich Building Society, bosses have revealed.
At present only around 120 staff at the High Street site benefit from being provided with a space, meaning more than double would in future be able to park their cars for free. The West Brom, which has been based in the town for 160 years, is building a multi-million pound new headquarters at the nearby Providence Place development.
That is close to the new £200 million New Square shopping centre and huge Tesco being built off All Saints Way.
Chief executive Jonathan Westhoff said the new development would include on-surface car parking with around 250 to 280 free spaces for staff.
He said around half of the 500-strong workforce drives into work, although many take advantage of good public transport links.
"The car parking is always a feature in any office block.
"In previous developments, more energy goes into the car parking and who gets it then any other subject."
The original plan for the society's expansion was to move hundreds of staff to the Point North development at The Waterfront, close to Merry Hill Shopping Centre.
That proposed move was branded an "utter disgrace" by Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper.
However, a U-turn was announced at the end of last year, with building society bosses saying the deal was no longer viable.
The decision was made to stay in the town, much to the joy of business and councillors.
Birmingham-based Associated Architects has now been appointed to design the new building.
It will accommodate up to 700 staff and is due to be completed by the end of 2014.
