A Black Country shopping centre will get a £50 million transformation in a development heralded as a new chapter as plans got the go-ahead.

Multi-million pound plans to create a 60,000 sq ft Tesco superstore with other shops and office space at Stourbridge’s Crown Centre were unanimously approved last night.

The present Crown Centre and Bell Street multi-storey car park will be demolished in a move which may create 400 new full and part time jobs.

Dudley Council planning committee chairman Councillor Tim Wright said it would “meet the needs of today, for the people of today”. Concerns about the number of parking spaces available during building and the modern style of the new centre alongside historic architecture of surrounding buildings were raised at last night’s meeting.

Some small traders also complained about possible loss of income when the superstore is built but the development control committee decided to follow officers’ calls to approve plans.

It was the third time in three years plans to transform the centre had been on the table. Tesco chiefs say they hope the new superstore and centre will be open by Christmas 2012.

Approval marks the end of a long-running saga as several stores, including the former Morrisons superstore and Spencer’s Market, pulled out of the centre in recent years.

Previous applications including creation of a hotel and market hall.

Alternative access to the town hall and library within the centre will be made during work. Plans include creating a larger town square in front of the old Yorkshire Bank and eight new retail units and offices.

A 543-space parking area will be below Tesco to replace the bulldozed car park. Tesco’s Nick Baker told the meeting the development would bring “significant investment to Stourbridge at the heart of the town centre”.

Bell Street will be two-way to traffic passing in front of the Crystal Leisure Centre as New Street disappears.