Land bought up for £140m complex

Land is being bought up to make way for a £140million shopping and leisure complex in the Black Country that has been delayed by the recession.

Compulsary Purchase Orders have been issued to take the land in Oldbury.

The land grab is part of 'The Junction' development, which aims to attract big name shops and bring 1,750 jobs to the area as well as leisure facilities.

The order will see land bounded by Dudley Road, Oldbury Ringway, Bromford Road, Fountain Lane and West Bromwich Street bought up.

Work was originally due to start in 2008 following a decade of negotiations, but was delayed due to the recession and negotiations with Severn Trent which had refused to hand over land.

The water company later withdrew its objections shortly before a public inquiry.

Sandwell regeneration chief, Councillor Bob Badham, said: "The confirmation by the Secretary of State of the Compulsory Purchase Order is good news and represents another stage in moving this major regeneration scheme forward.

"It clears the way for the developer 'The Junction Ltd Partnership,' in partnership with the council to complete the site assembly process and start to clear the site in readiness for development."

The total development will measure 40 acres. Most of the site is already vacant.