£30m Oldbury retail park with shops and restaurant is back on the cards
A £30 million masterplan for a new retail park in Oldbury which was first proposed almost two decades ago is being revived.
Shops and a restaurant will be built on the 38-acre site known as The Junction on the former Hunts Foundry in Oldbury town centre, under the plans.
But councillors in the town remain cautious about the development following the latest twist in what has been a long-running saga in which much has been promised before being snatched say again.
A retail park was first mooted for the Hunts Foundry site on near Oldbury Ringway 18 years ago close to the town centre, with plans coming and going in various guises ever since.
The site, off West Bromwich Street, has long been left empty with building flattened near to Sandwell and Dudley railway station.
A screening opinion has been sent to Sandwell Council with a full planning application due to follow in the next few weeks.
Ward councillor Mahboob Hussian said he believes any developer promising to deliver the retail park must set out a timescale for when it will be delivered.
He said: "I am aware plans have been submitted for the retail park again. I understand it's a different type of scheme and will bring in some large retail development.
"This has been going on for 18 years, there have been a number of schemes that have come up.
"After 18 years, probably three different owners and 10 different schemes, whatever the scheme there needs to be some sort of timescale to start the work.
"Otherwise what happens is they try to put a package together, then try to sell it on and then someone thinks of a different scheme.
"As local members, we are here to help and anything will be welcome after all these years. But they need to be serious proposals."
The long-awaited development was due to transform the town with new shops and restaurants and create more than 1,000 new jobs but there have been many false dawns.
It is understood the site is owned by Hammerson, a firm behind many major retail developments in the country including Birmingham's Bullring centre.
Permission was initially granted for the shopping centre in November 2004. In 2007, 2009 and 2011, Sandwell Council granted approval to amendments.
A £50 million scheme, covering a 34-acre site and creating 1,000 jobs, was given final approval in 2011 but the land has remained empty ever since.
