Start date moves closer for £200m store

Work is now under way to install almost 656ft of hoardings around the site of the £200 million Tesco development in West Bromwich.

Construction on the scheme, which will include a 70-bedroom hotel, shops, car-parking and a public area, as well as the Tesco Extra store, is due to start in the New Year.

Preliminary work on the 37-acre development has already begun, with the building of the new Eaton Valley Primary school, which opened in time for the start of term this September.

The brightly-coloured hoardings will trace the line of site for the new Tesco store, retail units and car parking.

The hoardings are being installed along parts of Cronehills Linkway and Hardware Street, the site of the old school. Sandwell Council's regeneration boss, Councillor Bob Badham, said after visiting the site: "This project has been years in the making and I hope that the installation of these hoardings will act as a positive reminder to the people of West Bromwich that we are edging closer to a new and exciting era in the town.

"The hoardings will inform local people and visitors about the plans for the future. "They will also improve the appearance of the area during a period of transformation. Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "We are 100 per cent committed to delivering the scheme in West Bromwich and the hoardings have been installed to show that progress is being made and that the construction phase of the scheme is just around the corner. It is hoped that the £200million supermarket scheme will be the lynchpin of a £500 million regeneration scheme.