Multi-million pound Cannock Gateway taking shape

Work on the new TK Maxx, drive-through Costa, Sofa Works and Burger King started a few months ago.

The multi-million pound project at Gateway Retail Park off the Churchbridge Island is on schedule to finish in June and the four stores will open some time in the summer.

Cannock is currently enjoying a retail revolution, with a new Marks & Spencer food store planned and a 130-shop designer outlet village.

The new Burger King at Gateway will be the first in the Cannock area and the new 5.8-acre retail park will create 120 new full and part-time jobs.

The site is being developed by Hortons' Estate Developments Ltd and chief executive Tony Green said building work is making good progress.

"The frame of the TK Maxx unit has now been erected and the cladding has been put to make it look more like a complete building.

"The steel structure for Sofa Works is up and the cladding is starting to go on. While the frames for Costa Coffee and Burger King have also gone up.

"The development will be ready by June and we're hoping the shops will be open by the end of the summer."

Mr Green continued: "From now the building work continue as it has done and the rest of the cladding will be put up.

"Then in June, the buildings will handed over to the tenants themselves who will fit them with the interior so they're ready to open to the public."

The new Marks & Spencer is opening in the former Comet store on the nearby Orbital Retail Park in the autumn.

Cannock Council worked for three years to bring the big name to the town, naming it at the top of a wish list of brands.

Mill Green Designer Outlet Village will feature numerous designer-style shops and will provide 800 jobs.

Council leader George Adamson said: "It's good to see that businesses are keen to move into the Cannock area and set up shops.

"The jobs that they create for people in the local area are the most important thing."