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Wolverhampton to get three new stores to spark jobs boost

Three new multi-million pound supermarkets will be built in Wolverhampton, creating 1,339 jobs and finally bringing a close to the city's longest-running planning wrangle.

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Three new multi-million pound supermarkets will be built in Wolverhampton, creating 1,339 jobs and finally bringing a close to the city's longest-running planning wrangle.

Sainsbury's and Tesco have both won the right to create new stores in the city, while permission has also been granted for another.

The decision puts an end to an 11-year battle between the store giants over the right to build on land at Raglan Street, in Chapel Ash.

During yesterday's meeting of Wolverhampton City Council's planning committee, Tesco exchanged contracts with its rival and handed over its share of land after more than a decade of rows and court battles.

Wolverhampton City Council had initially favoured Tesco to build on the site, even though it owned only a 10 per cent share compared to Sainsbury's 86 per cent.

Hospital

The authority's decision was partly influenced by Tesco's vow to use the separate Royal Hospital site for houses and offices.

But Sainsbury's objected and Supreme Court judges finally voted in its favour last year. Tesco went back to the drawing board and came up with plans to create its own supermarket at the Royal Hospital site and agreed it would sell its share of Raglan Street if permission for the scheme was granted, which it was last night.

Owners of the Peel Centre in Stafford Street also yesterday won permission for a supermarket and are in talks with Morrisons.

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