Wolverhampton's long wait for Tesco and Sainsbury's

Almost two years ago, that war of planners and paperwork ended when Tesco and Sainsbury's both got permission to build new superstores, worth in excess of £60 million each.

But today, business leaders voiced their concerns as work has yet to begin other than holes being dug or scaffolding erected.

And some councillors are worried at how the store giants have managed to bring forward smaller, convenience stores, while their plans for hypermarkets are on hold.

The companies themselves have stressed that they are completely committed to building their new superstores, with Tesco pledging today that work will start next year.

Sainsbury's has recently gone back to the city council for some 'very minor' amendments to its scheme.

But concerns came as Tesco has publicly stated it plans to overhaul some of its 250 out-of-town Extra stores, which have seen profits tumble, by refurbishing them.

Sainsbury's has also recently overhauled its Wednesfield store with a 21,600sq ft extension, has taken over and refurbished the former Daisy Fresh store in Compton to open a Sainsbury's Local, revamped its Perton branch and announced plans to open a new local store on a former pub site on Compton Road.

The projects have created dozens of jobs but they are a far cry from the 90,000 sq ft Sainsbury's store with its a petrol station, neighbouring housing with gardens and car parking, a scheme which promises 190 new jobs and a move for the 185 workers at its existing St George's store.

Nor do the convenience stores provide the 700 jobs promised by Tesco at the Royal Hospital site.

In 2011 Wolverhampton City Council believed it had the best of both worlds - Tesco would redevelop the empty Royal Hospital, while Sainsbury's would revive Raglan Street near Chapel Ash.

Scaffolding went up at the Royal. The diggers rolled into Raglan Street. And then all the work seemed to stop.

The delay could not be more different to the high stakes meeting of a Wolverhampton City Council planning committee in October 2011.

Planners had been so determined to end the 11-year stalemate between the warring stores, which had gone all the way to the High Court, that they organised a special meeting to decide the applications on the same day.

Doing so meant both stores were simply awaiting the race pistol to fire and that neither had a head start. But councillors fear that Wolverhampton's wait is a long way from over. Councillor Jonathan Yardley said: "We don't have an end date.

"There's no sign of the big supermarkets but plenty of work being done on Sainsbury's Locals."

Business leaders are concerned and want the supermarkets to get to work on their larger stores as soon as possible.

Henry Carver, chairman of the Wolverhampton Business Group, said: "The council has not been difficult about this.

"In fact it's bent over backwards to make it as easy as possible for the developments to go ahead.

"I'm disappointed that with all the planning permission in place the projects have stalled at the final hurdle." Mike Priddy, president of the Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce, said: "People in Wolverhampton have been badly let down.Where are these big supermarkets? Why are we the only city in the country without a major Tesco?

Wolverhampton City Council's deputy leader Peter Bilson said he was impatient and that the delay had been 'frustrating.

Sainsbury's spokesman Tess Randles said the company was working hard to get on site soon. She added: "While some preparatory site works have taken place, we're still working to fit this important scheme into our wider property development programme and are very hopeful of being able to start on site later this year."

Tesco spokesman James Wiggam said: "We are looking to begin work next year, with a view to opening the store in early 2015 and remain proud to be offering such significant investment in Wolverhampton." The work is expected to take a year.