Mine concerns lifted in Tesco warehouse plans

The DotCom centre would create 70 jobs and be used to deliver goods and groceries to shoppers' homes from the Burnt Tree Island supermarket if it's given the go-ahead at a meeting next week.

But the scheme had been hanging in the balance after the Coal Authority raised concerns because part of the planned extension would be built over a recorded mine entry.

Since then, however, the supermarket giant has provided details of a survey of the site.

A report by Andy Jones from engineering consultant Fairhurst says the mine entry was 'not considered at risk of collapse' and had been 'treated' in 1991 and 2010 to make it secure.

Mr Jones said the foundations of the extension would be reinforced to further mitigate the potential risk of ground gas.

As a result, James Smith, planning liaison officer at The Coal Authority says he is now satisfied Tesco has demonstrated that the site 'can be made safe and stable' for the proposed development.

Dudley Council planning officers have recommended the project is approved by councillors at a meeting on Monday next week (4).

Planning officer Faisal Agha said in his report: "It is recommended that the application be approved subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 legal agreement to provide a contribution of £12,720 to fund the continuation of the air quality monitoring in the vicinity of the store for a further three years."

The scheme will see three extensions built to the superstore, including one underneath the ground floor using some of the car park.

It means there will be fewer parking spaces for customers with the number of spots due to be cut from 975 to 725.

Tesco's planning application says up to 13 full and part-time jobs would be created by the re-modelling of the site. This will be followed by a further 61 positions expected within the following four years.

Construction jobs will also be created during the development work.

As part of the plans there will be changes made to the access road off the Birmingham New Road with the introduction of a designated right hand turn lane for home shopping vehicles to prevent disruption for customers visiting the site.

Customer orders will be packed and loaded into vans in the morning, between the hours of 4am and 1pm. Home deliveries will take place between 6.30am and 11pm.

Also customers will be able to pick up their orders from a 'click and collect' point.