Express & Star

Tesco bosses tight-lipped on Wolverhampton store's future

Uncertainty still surrounds the future of Wolverhampton's city centre Tesco store, which will close as the Mander Centre undergoes a £25 million overhaul.

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The lease on its Metro outlet expires in February 2016, and it will close to make way for a revamp and the creation of a Debenhams department store.

But today bosses still could not confirm whether it was staying in the Mander Centre. In a statement, the store said: "We'll always consider locations that may provide the right offer for our customers and will of course keep the community updated of any developments."

The Mander Centre will undergo a massive overhaul under new bosses Benson Elliot as part of plans which will create around 200 jobs.

The main feature of the development will be a new 90,000 sq ft Debenhams which will span three floors and is due to open in October 2017. The revamp will see around 10 discount stores ousted as Benson Elliot attempts to bring 'mid to high end' fashion outlets into the centre.

In total 34 units – 25 of which are currently empty – will be converted into 11 larger stores. As well as Tesco Metro, Greggs will also close to make way for Debenhams. In January the supermarket giant scrapped plans for a £60 million superstore at Wolverhampton's former Royal Hospital.

The supermarket chain wrote to the city council saying it was scrapping the plan as it announced 43 stores were shutting nationwide and 49 developments were being shelved. At the time council leader Councillor Roger Lawrence said he was 'angered' and 'extremely disappointed'.

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