Work on track at West Bromwich's new £200m Tesco

The steel structures of West Bromwich's new £200million Tesco development are beginning to take shape, as this picture shows.

Construction work at the landmark development is on track for the project which is transforming the landscape.

VINCI Construction UK is the main contractor for the New Square retail and leisure quarter which is scheduled to open next spring.

New Square is being developed by Spenhill, the regeneration arm of Tesco.

The 437,000 sq ft scheme, anchored by the 139,000 sq ft Tesco store, includes a 36,000 sq ft eight-screen Odeon cinema and restaurant space, with 1,900 car parking spaces. It will create about 2,000 new jobs.

Major retailers who have been confirmed include Primark, Next, Arcadia, JD Sports and Bank, while Nandos and Prezzo are the first restaurants to have signed up to the scheme.

The borough's neighbourhoods boss, Councillor Ian Jones, said: "I am very very pleased with the progress.

"This will bring residents from all over the local area – not just Sandwell but further afield – to make West Bromwich one of the centres to go to.

It is pulling together not only just shops but eating establishments and entertainment venues into West Bromwich which will help make West Bromwich a vibrant place once again."

As work progesses on the scheme a major gateway into the town centre continues to be closed as part of the regeneration of the town.

Cronehills Linkway was closed last week for 10 weeks to allow construction work to take place on the extension of the town square.

Bus services are being diverted around the Ringway, Reform Street and the new Tesco ringway extension, Congregation Way.