Green light for £11 million plan for former Oldbury Toys ‘R’ Us - including leisure outlet, shops and garden centre
A former Oldbury Toys ‘R’ Us store which has stood empty for almost two years will be transformed into an £11 million retail park.
Sandwell Council’s planning committee has been granted permission for the development on Wolverhampton Road – which includes a leisure outlet, shops, garden centre and a drive-thru restaurant.
David Green, an agent for Horton Estates, said the retail park will create 75 jobs and was a good news for the town.
Urging councillors to back the plan, he said: “The decision by Horton Estates to acquire and invest in this site is we think a big confidence boost for Sandwell.”
Explaining the owners are one of the oldest property developers in the Midlands he said they were now in advance negotiations with potential tenants.
He added: “I can confirm if planning permission is approved Hortons are committed to beginning construction immediately and have the main construction completed by August 2021.
“So the investment here is immediate and imminent and would represent about £11.5 million and based on standard employment ratios will create about 75 jobs from this development, so it is a good news story.”
Pointing out there were no objections to the development, he told councillors: “We hope that you will support this proposal and the investment it represents.”
Backing the development, planning officers recommended approval in a report to the committee, saying: “The development proposed would meet certain other development plan objectives, such as those for renewable energy, job creation, reuse of previously developed land, bringing vacant land back into beneficial use, securing investment in the borough and adding to the range of facilities in the local area.”
Council bosses also assured councillors the development would not impact on a proposed £29 million redesign of the nearby Birchley Island.
The Toys ‘R’ Us store closed in April 2018 following the collapse of the national chain with a loss of 3,000 jobs across the country.
