Retailer in talks on centre unit

A big-name retailer is in talks to open a store in Stourbridge's Ryemarket Shopping Centre.

Centre officials won't reveal the identity of the firm until discussions are complete but confirmed it was a major household retailer.

They said that if agreed, the deal could involve reconfiguring existing units in the centre to create a larger shop and an area for goods to be stored. It would be the first time in years that units in the centre have been redeveloped in this way.

The discussions come weeks after Ryemarket bosses appointed new agents to get companies to come into the town centre.

Birmingham-based Wright Silverwood has been appointed to the centre, which contains 36 units and already hosts leading national retailers such as Waitrose, WH Smith, Boots and Woolworths.

It is hoped the new firm will add to these names to bring in thousands more shoppers into the Ryemarket Centre and Stourbridge town as a whole.

Wright-Silverwood already represents many shopping centres in the West Midlands, including sites in Walsall, Bilston and Coalville.

Ryemarket spokesman Derek Wilson said: "The discussions are taking place with a major household retailer for a deal which could involve reconfiguring existing units in the centre."