£115m designer shopping village for Cannock is approved

The £115 million Mill Green Designer Outlet Village will be built next to Mill Green Nature Reserve, off Eastern Way – five minutes from the town's railway station.

Work can now start on development, which will annually bring in three million visitors, next year, in time for targeted opening in 2018, after it was approved unanimously by Cannock Chase Council councillors.

Managing director, Giles Membrey of Rioja Developments, the firm behind the plans, said: "We know there is such a good demand for this kind of retail offer. The scheme will create over 1,200 new jobs and many much needed apprenticeships, which will provide a real boost to the local economy.

"Mill Green will become a 'must go to' destination that will complement other centres and attract thousands of additional visitors each year, putting the area firmly on the visitor map."

Phase one of the scheme will see 81 outlets built creating around 1,000 jobs.

A further 48 units will be built in phase two as well as a multi-storey car park, bringing the total number of parking spaces to around 2,000.

When complete the village will be the size of nearly four football pitches.

Bosses are hoping to attract firms including Lacoste, Diesel, Cath Kidson, Jack Wills and Polo Ralph Lauren. But the ability of Cannock to draw in such brands was questioned at the planning committee meeting.

Laurence Homes from commercial property agency GVA, who was representing Wolverhampton, Walsall and Stafford councils, said: "The reality is the scheme will at best attract middle of the road retailers, selling at lower prices.It will just draw price-sensitive shops away from town centres like Walsall."

But members of the council's committee insisted Cannock would be getting a good deal.

Councillor Tony Johnson, said: "The wards where this scheme will be built are some of the most deprived within the Cannock Chase boundary. Much needed jobs will be provided. This is an opportunity Cannock has been looking for."