Walsall Old Square Shopping Centre revamp finally set to start
The multi-million pound transformation of a Walsall shopping centre which will bring a new Primark and Co-op to the town will begin in November, it can be revealed today.
It is expected to take just over a year to complete the first phase of a major £21 million revamp of the Old Square Shopping Centre.
The cash-strapped council has agreed to plough almost £8m into the stalled scheme to get it off the ground, and develop the flagship stores creating 150 jobs.
The council would be responsible for delivering the regeneration to see the arrival of Primark and Co-op and then rent would be payable to them.
The initial investment is coming from council balances and not from borrowing with bosses saying it is a major part of the regeneration of the town centre.
Morgan Sindall has been appointed as the council's contractor and the construction programme is expected to take 55 weeks. Work on site is anticipated to start at the end of November.
The authority has been working alongside centre owners Threadneedle to get the long awaited project, which has been in the pipeline for several years, under way.
Work was initially expected to start in spring last year. But an objection from an unnamed third party was believed to have originally caused a hold up.
It was announced in May that the council was planning to step in and kick-start the project. Opposition Labour councillors criticised the decision accusing bosses of 'panic.'
But Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said it would provide a major boost to the heart of the borough.
"We want to get this off the ground as pro-actively as possible. We are looking for a long-term revival of Walsall town centre," he said.
"We need to get them with their doors open and get shoppers into the town. Primark is a destination shop and will make Walsall a destination.
"The Co-op is once more investing in Walsall and has been for many years. Everything has been done as speedily as possible and efficiently as possible."
The stores are the part of the first phase of the revamp of the Old Square in Digbeth.
It comes as a separate £12m scheme to transform St Matthews Quarter, bringing 200 jobs, is also being planned in the area.
