A £50 million project to overhaul the ailing Stourbridge town centre, creating 400 jobs, may be open for business by Chrismas 2012 if plans go ahead.

Plans to revamp the town’s troubled Crown Centre were today being handed over in full to council planning bosses.

If approved, the centre – including a 60,000 sq ft Tesco superstore – would be reopened in time for Christmas 2012.

The news comes as fresh images were unveiled of what the changes would mean for the town centre.

Traders welcomed today’s announcement.

Laura Davies, aged 32, has run Polka Dot Paradise on the corner of High Street and Market Street for 18 months. She said: “We’re 100 per cent positive here – we think it will be Stourbridge’s saviour.

“We just can’t wait for it to come as soon as possible, get rid of that monstrosity multi-storey car park and bring some customers to our end of the High Street.”

Meanwhile Norma Griffiths, of Norma’s Cosmetics – one of two traders left in the centre – gave the news a cautious welcome.

“It’s good the plans have gone in. We need something done,” said Mrs Griffiths. However, I do worry smaller traders might suffer.”
A decision from Dudley Council is expected in early 2011.