Stourbridge Tesco store rises from foundations

The framework has begun to appear on the development site, off the ring road.

It's the first change in the skyline since the rubble left from the demolition of the old Crown Centre and Bell Street car park was cleared.

Contractors have been busy completing the foundations and work on the underground car park.

But now some of the structure of the new store can be seen on the site.

Peter Cox, president of Stourbridge Chamber of Trade, said he was pleased to see the building start to take shape.

"It's been going well and they've made good progress. Another few months and we will be able to see it come together. It's going to make a big difference to the site," he said.

Posters advertising the opening of the new store next winter went up on hoardings around the plot last month.

Tesco have previously said they want the store to open in time for Christmas 2013. Contractors have been busy completing foundations and work on the underground car park.

Work to knock down the old Crown Centre began in March and was completed in May. The car park was brought down using explosives on the morning of April 1.

Landmovers cleared 9,000 tons of rubble, some of which will be re-used in the building, ready to construct the shopping complex. The new supermarket will create 320 jobs and more than 250 people have already expressed an interest in working at the store.

It's part of a £30 million development which will also include a new shopping centre and a town square.

Lights will be installed on Stourbridge town hall as part of work to revamp the square to make it more attractive to shoppers.

The side of the town hall will form part of the square along with the entrance to the new shopping centre.