This is the first glimpse of the multi-million pound shopping centre planned for West Bromwich, designed to blend in with the Public arts centre.
It will be made from terracotta and black glass to complement the curved pink and black arts centre.
New designs for the ultra modern complex have been unveiled exclusively to the Express & Star by Tesco.
The project will involve a total overhaul of the Queens Square shopping centre as well as land occupied by the town’s police station.
Tesco will open a new store as part of the plans and there will be 39 outlets for other retailers in the two floor complex. The plans, which will be displayed to the public later this week, also include a new public square, bars and restaurants.
Tesco spokesman Tony Fletcher today said the supermarket’s building was unique for a shopping centre as it was being planned to complement the striking pink and black Public Gallery.
The controversial arts building has attracted criticism as its modern design currently stands out in the setting of the old fashioned High Street. However, Mr Fletcher said the new shopping centre complex, planned for 2009, would help the gallery blend in.
He said: “At the moment the Public building looks a bit like a fish out of water. However, the new shopping centre has been designed to complement it. It will be terracotta with black glass and some cream materials.”
The designs for the new centre will be on show at the former Mothercare store in Queens Square on Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
10 Comments
Oh dear… Its a lovely idea that West Brom will finally get a make over - but i really dont think its worth it - as the only shops that survive up there are the pound shops… And is a huge re-development really needed for various pound shops????
Wotcha.
The “public” has already cost us more than £50 million. How much more will this little lot cost then ?
Blend in with the Public (sorry tHE pUBLIC)?
That really does take the biscuit. No-one in West Brom wanted that monstrosity in the first place and now the town’s going to be designed around it. Is every shop window that gets smashed by drunks on a Friday night going to cost £40,000 to replace like that one at tHE pUBLIC did?
well we all know the public is a white elephant and why waste millions of our hard earned council tax to build a shopping centre no one wants in the rest of sandHELL they killed tipton centre off in the late seventies and other centres a round the area,as hyde said pound shops thats all thats there now anyway,DON’T WASTE ANYMORE OF OUR MONEY SANDHELL COUNCIL.
I really don’t understand how thick you lot are.
It’s being developed by Tescos. Why would that cost you anything, other than through profits that Tescos cream off you monkeys for buying their tat?
Are you really that ignorant?
We need to encourage private money into West Bromwich, not drive it away with the constant moaning of some of it’s habitants. Poumd Shops in IMO only appear in towns because of a lack of investment. I must admit the place does need a spruce up & we should all welcome Tesco to West Bromwich, At least their corporate colours & the towns football teams are the same LOL.
What excellent news for a new dawning for a wonderful new centre of West Bromwich, with knock on effects to Sandwell and the West Midlands Region. At last the movement that we were promised is finaly taking place. Thanks to all who had faith, conviction and forward thinking for our town. Well done.
This is private investment, not council money. West Bromwich desperately needs this development to bring in major retailers and drive out the pound shops. These improvements have been years in the planning and because of them we have gained a new health centre and a new police station (still to be built)which we otherwise would not have got. Thank you Tesco’s for your faith in West Bromwich to become a main shopping area once more
I am disallusioned by the way my area has changed in the last 20 yrs (being a born and bred black country lass)I miss “Chelsea Girl” with affordable clothes,that didnt look cheap. God even Bambers was better than most these days. And what happened to the fountain?Need i say more our area has changed for the worst and it will only get worse. Don’t beleive this goverment that has sold us lock,stock and barrell down the river.We’ve allready gone and when we’ve gone will be forgotten. No ugly purple building will do nothing for a lost cause.And when would a building that size cost that much? Who’s profited?Need we ask!This is all a joke!On us the working class.So we the extinct have gone down without a fight.Com-on staffies protect your owners and show-em what the working-class is really all about.A nice dream of days of yore.
just because you’re working class (as am i) doesn’t mean we want to be stuck in the past. It’s time to move forward.
West Bromwich is a sad old town that needs a little love. The only reason West Brom is full of pound shops is because there aren’t any other shops to entice people- especailly with merry hill & Brum around the corner.
I say it’s a good idea.