Express & Star

Brownhills shopping centre will not be allowed to continue in a rundown condition

A shopping centre will not be allowed to continue in a rundown condition and in limbo "indefinitely," a council chief has warned.

Published

Walsall Council is prepared to take action if plans to redevelop Ravenscourt in Brownhills are not submitted within six months.

More than 500 people signed a petition calling on the authority to compulsory purchase the site after swarms of traders vacated the precinct.

Tesco had plans to purchase the site and expand its superstore in the High Street, but ended up shelving the plans in 2013.

The centre has been in a state of disrepair ever since with fly-tipping and graffiti are just some of the concerns raised by residents and traders.

Regeneration officers are in ongoing discussions with the owners of the precinct to bring forward plans for its redevelopment, but have confirmed their intentions to serve a section 215 notice in six months time should proposals stall.

Regeneration chief, councillor Mohammad Nazir, said: "It is in everybody's interests that we find an achievable solution for the centre but we won't allow the situation to continue indefinitely.

"The ball is firmly in the court of the owners. We have spelt out our intentions and so it's now up to them to come forward with their proposals."

An agent for the owners has written to the authority stating drawings for the plans are being finalised with the intention of submitting a planning application next year.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.