Shops and cafes in £5m revamp

Plans for a £5 million regeneration of Hednesford town centre have been given the go-ahead.

Councillors voted to approve two separate planning applications to redevelop the run-down town centre with new housing, shops and cafes at a meeting of the planning committee last night.

Under the plans there will be a four storey block with shops, restaurants, offices and 18 flats above the frontages on Market Street. There will also be a major foodstore to the rear and construction of a new access off Victoria Street with provision for 172 car parking spaces.

The proposals were warmly welcomed by councillors. Pat Ansell, the council's economic spokeswoman, said: "It's going to be fantastic and I look forward to seeing it built."

Compulsory purchase orders could be made on the existing properties on the site but only as a last resort. Councillors were hopeful it would not come to that.