Building of new multi-million Walsall pharmacy pushes ahead

The 20,000 sqft Jhoots building in Walsall is due to be completed this year for around 100 staff, creating 30 new jobs.

The £3.2m development on the corner of Littleton Street West and Hatherton Street forms a key regeneration milestone as part of the Gigaport area.

It will sit opposite the main Walsall Housing Group offices and next to the £11m business and sports hub now under construction by Walsall College.

Jhoots main base is currently in Darlaston and the new HQ is part of £400m plans to transform land by the ring road. A new cinema is also earmarked next to the main Tesco.

Walsall regeneration chief, councillor Mohammed Nazir, said: "It is looking really nice. The Hatherton Road area in the past was a backwater of Walsall, now it is an iconic corridor.

"It is really good to see the building and the good design. It is good news bringing jobs."

Up to two other offices could be built on the land of Jhoots. Council regeneration bosses believe up to 60 new jobs could be created.

The previous buildings on the site, including the former 100 year-old engineering firm Noirit which relocated to a location in Portland Street, were pulled down in summer 2012.

Walsall Council invested in the site to help push forward with the regeneration of the main corridor.

The shape of that part of the town has been changing rapidly with a former tannery in Hatherton Street pulled down to create land for long-term regeneration.

The developments form part of Walsall Council's long-term £400m Gigaport vision, which is creating thousands of jobs along the ring road corridor through sports provision, business and office expansions.