Opening of Walsall cinema delayed as £12m complex launch pushed back
Work on a multi-million pound cinema complex in Walsall has been delayed with it now not expected to open until next year.
The development, for a nine-screen Vue cinema and restaurants in Littleton Street West, creating 200 jobs, started at the end of last year. It was intended for the complex to open later this year. But the need to carry out sewer works has meant progress has stalled on the site.
Bosses behind the scheme say it will realistically be 2016 when the £12 million complex launches.
They have blamed the delay on a change in design to one of the restaurant units, where Asian buffet chain Mimosa plans to open a 370-seater restaurant.
Tom Wilcox, spokesman for Cordwell Property Group – the developers behind the scheme – said there had been changes in terms of where the kitchen and toilet would be situated, which had changed the plans in the drainage designs.
So far, Mimosa has been the only restaurant confirmed for the development but bosses have revealed that another unit is under offer and say a deal is close.
Mr Wilcox said: "The slow down in progress has come about due to a change in drainage design for our large A3 unit, let to Mimosa Restaurants."
He said the company was also finalising a 'party wall agreement' with a premises in Stafford Street, near to the building work.
Mr Wilcox added: "The enabling foundation works have been concluded in part and we are finalising agreements with Severn Trent Water for diverting the sewer, which runs across our site.
"We are still in discussions with restaurants for other units."
He said contractors would advise when the development was likely to be open to the public in 2016.
