£20m centre revamp plan

Multi-million pound plans to drastically revamp Stourbridge's Crown Centre have been lodged after years in the pipeline.

The £20 million proposal for the shopping centre has now been submitted to Dudley Council.

The scheme will go before planners later this year. Manchester-based Modus have come up with the redesign of the Crown Centre, which includes bringing a Tesco supermarket into the former Morrison's unit. If agreed the transformation will also see 75 apartments built on top of the existing building.

There would also be more than 500 car parking spaces and a new crossing from the Bath Road bus stop.

A new market hall will be created to replace Spencer's Market and there will also be additional units for big name retailers.

A spokesman for DPP, design consultants acting for Modus, said the new Tesco store would sell everything from food to electrical goods and clothes.

"It is intended that the proposals will replace, expand and improve the existing large unit in the centre.

"This will facilitate the creation of a modern supermarket that will be of sufficient quality and size to anchor and support the centre."

Traders have been anxiously waiting for news from Modus since it took over the site last year.

Morrison's moved out of the large supermarket unit in the centre at the start of last year and businesses have been struggling ever since.

Dudley Council has already agreed to use compulsory purchase order powers to buy out retailers if necessary.

The council would then be able to secure the land and allow proposals for the new shopping centre to go ahead.

Modus said 750 jobs were likely to be created as a result of the development, which includes a 70,000 sq ft flagship foodstore.

Building is expected to take 18 months, with the supermarket opening ahead of work on apartments being completed.