Delays over new £200m Tesco development

Supermarket giant Tesco has yet to start work on its new £200 million development in West Bromwich – a month after the official start date.

The final part of planning consent, including road closures, has still to be finalised and bosses said they are not yet in a position to say when work will begin.

Sandwell Council is now demanding answers from the company.

Tesco was due start work on the long-awaited shopping and leisure complex, set to bring an extra 2,000 jobs, in January.

The plans have been on the table for almost 10 years, with outline planning permission granted back in 2005. However shortly before Christmas bosses admitted work would be delayed.

Councillor Bob Badham, Sandwell's regeneration and transport boss said: "I am very disappointed that Tesco has not started the scheme yet, but we are in their hands.

"We are having a constant dialogue with their representatives to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible and sort out the final part of the planning consent including road closures."

Tesco bosses said they are unable to give a date for the work to start due to delays in negotiations over the new £7 million West Bromwich Police Station, being built by Tesco as part of the deal.

Under the plans, the current station in New Street will be bulldozed and replaced by a new station on the corner of Moor Street and Bowater Street. The New Street high rise will be knocked down.

Councillor Badham said: "We want a start to be made on the new police station which I feel will help to kick start the whole of the regeneration of the town but the bottom line is that we need to be given realistic start dates. People can rest assured that we are constantly working to get this major scheme off the ground as quickly as possible."

Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "There is no issue with the finances. This development is going to happen. Things have taken a bit of time but we should be able to give a start date within the coming weeks.

"There are a lot of parties involved in the police station negotiations and it has taken longer than anticipated."

The 37-acre Tesco development will include a 70-bedroom hotel, 217,000 sq ft of high street shops, car-parking and a public area, as well as the Tesco Extra store.