Retail park in £120m sell-off

Saturday 6th February 2010, 11:30AM GMT.

Upmarket baby store Mamas and Papas and Argos are poised to move into one of the region’s biggest retail parks which is on the market for £120 million.

News of the new big names came as it was announced that Gallagher Retail Park in Wednesbury, the home of Ikea and B&Q, was to go on sale next week.

Real estate brokers behind negotiations say a number of overseas investors have expressed an interest in taking on the 600,000 sq ft site near junction 9 of the M6, which they say is one of the best shopping parks in the country.

Patrick Knapman, head of out-of-town retail investment for Cushman & Wakefield, the company managing the sale, said bids are expected over the next two to three weeks.

“We are already starting to talk to investors about the retail park,” he said.

Gallagher Retail Park is already home to household names including a huge Curry’s, PC World and Next, with high street chemists Boots also set to move in. A Decathlon sports store will open later this year bringing 65 jobs.

Denise Bigwood, senior press officer at Argos added: “All we can confirm at the moment is that we do have an interest in the Wednesbury area.”

The Gallagher Retail site was purchased by Warwickshire-based Gallagher Development in 1988. No-one from the firm was available for comment today.

Elaine Costigan Wednesbury North has welcomed the news of the new investment. She said: “This will be great for the area.”


  1. 1
    supa ev

    about time walsalls a pain in the butt to park if you can fine a space

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Nick

    I’ll believe it when I see it. So many times do we hear about new businesses moving in, but with 3-4 ‘derelict’ units as has been the case for the last few years, I don’t have confidence.

    Report abuse

    • Candria wilkes

      Please remember that whilst the recession is still here, now is the time for these companies to get the best price for a site on this retail park. They will be there, in place, for the recovery. When it happens. They do not miss a thing.

      Report abuse

  3. 3
    Connor Davies

    That’s right Candria. The private sector, that’s companies like banks and pension funds, do not miss a thing.

    Oh, apart from a housing market crash. Or a credit crunch. They missed those. Oh, and rising oil prices. They’re missing that too.

    But other than those, yes, you’re so right. They never miss a thing.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Martacus Red

    Lets hope whoever buys the place, spends some money on extra parking & actually getting into the retail park from Junction 10. This I’m sure would relieve the congestion in & around Junction 9.

    Report abuse



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