United Carpets and Beds in site search

A new site is being sought for United Carpets and Beds in Wolverhampton as it prepares to shut down and relocate.

The Peel Centre in Stafford Street will be left completely empty following the closure as its stores have either shut down or been damaged by a fire over the past 12 months.

Focus DIY closed last June after the national chain collapsed.

Then last August, Furniture Warehouse was wrecked by arsonists and the blaze also forced JJB Sports to close.

But owner Peel Holdings has obtained planning permission to level all the buildings and turn the centre into a £20 million supermarket which would create 300 jobs. The company has been seeking a deal with Morrisons ever since. Peel also has permission for a revamp including new units for shops or a gym and 325 car parking spaces.

The move would involve the relocation of the Jaguar Land Rover dealership adjacent to the centre and there would be a £2m roundabout created.

Will Hickman, spokesman for United Carpets and Beds, said: "The store will remain open until stock is gone. We are looking for an appropriate site in the area. All staff will be offered vacancies."

Peel spokesman Glenville Bird said: "The current situation is that following the fire that took place last year, we are still negotiating a settlement with the insurance company. As soon as that is settled, we can look to the future."

If the company does create a supermarket, it will face competition from nearby Asda, close to Molineux. Tesco and Sainsbury's already have permission to build new supermarkets in Wolverhampton.

Peel faced a long wait before finally receiving planning permission for the new supermarket last October.

The city council insisted on deciding on all three supermarkets on the same day in order to avoid re-igniting a decade-long row between Sainsbury's and Tesco over the right to build in Raglan Street.