Primark to create 200 new jobs in West Bromwich

Budget fashion giant Primark will open a new store at West Bromwich's £200 million Tesco development, which will create around 200 jobs.

News of the store comes as the development agreement finalising the multi million pound regeneration scheme has also been signed, paving the way for the project to start.

It will create more than 2,000 jobs in total.

Sandwell's jobs boss, Councillor Ian Jones said legal issues which have been delaying the project have been tied up and work is set to start on site next month, with a view to completion in early 2013.

Work on the development was expected to start in May, but has not yet started, although preparatory works have been taking place.

Primark spokesman Geoff Lancaster today confirmed contracts have been exchanged at the site and plans were now in the early stages.

He said: "Contracts have been exchanged so that confirms us.

"We are always pleased when there is a new store announced in a new area and it just demonstrates that there is still a lot of scope within the UK."

Referring to the number of jobs that will be created he added: "It is not possible to be definite at the moment about how many there will be. Typically we are talking in the area of 200."

Councillor Jones said: "I think it is excellent news for West Bromwich that a major retailer like Primark has had confidence to invest in West Bromwich and Sandwell as a whole.

"I think that local residents who travel out to Birmingham and elsewhere for Primark stores will be pleased that they can just turn up in West Bromwich and it will probably mean that not only Sandwell residents will visit the West Bromwich development, but from far further afield which is what we want."

The 570,487sqft scheme includes a cinema, shops and restaurants.