Asda brings 400 new jobs

Up to 400 jobs will be up for grabs when a new supermarket opens its doors in Halesowen, it was revealed today.

The Asda store, which forms part of the £30 million revamp of the town centre, will start welcoming customers on November 17. Developer Vale Retail has confirmed work on the supermarket had passed the halfway stage.

Staff will start fitting out the Cornbow Shopping Centre premises next month and a 600-space car park will also be built on the roof of the store.

The two-level store, which will open round the clock on weekdays and for six hours on Sundays, will also have a customer restaurant.

Asda spokesman Chris Marlow said the store would be starting its recruitment drive at the end of the month. The 75,000sq ft store will be the showpiece of the town centre redevelopment which includes a new fascia on the outside of the Cornbow centre and a revamp of the bus station.

Mr Meade said Carillion, developers of the new £3.5million bus station, would "endeavour" to complete the project in time for the store opening.

It will include two passenger waiting areas serving eight bus stands with electronic doors which will open when a bus approaches.

There will also be electronic displays dotted about the building to keep passengers updated with information about the bus services.

Centro also hope the distinctive entrance canopy will create a landmark feature into the Cornbow shopping centre.

The town centre regeneration is being spearheaded by Vale Retail with partners Dudley Council and Centro.

* More than £250,000 which was earmarked to be spent on helping to revamp Halesowen has now been pumped into the controversial regeneration of a town park, it emerged today. The money has been hived off to meet the overspend on the long-running Leasowes Park saga.