Shops sign up for West Bromwich £200m site

Three new retailers have signed up to West Bromwich's £200 million New Square development, it was revealed today.

Shoe retailer Deichmann, Harvester restaurant and Phones 4 U are the latest High Street names to sign up to the regeneration scheme. Almost 65 per cent of units in the development have been let.

The latest retailers will join Primark, Next, JD Sports, Bank, Arcadia and the anchor Tesco Extra store as well as Nandos and Prezzo in the development, which is set to mark the dawn of a new era in the town and transform its fortunes.

The major development by Spenhill, the regeneration division of Tesco, will open next spring.

The project will create around 2,000 new jobs in West Bromwich and also include a 36,000sq ft eight-screen Odeon cinema and restaurant space, with 1,900 car parking spaces.

Jonathan Simpson, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "New Square will be impressive. It provides the space and opportunity for quality retailers to open in West Bromwich in an environment that will be stunning to visit and shop at.

"We have strong retail interest from leading operators and this success is building a picture of the many shopping options and leisure which will be there when New Square opens next year.

Sandwell's economy boss Councillor Derek Rowley added: "After so many years of planning, we are excited to see the transformation happen and are delighted to welcome so many fantastic stores to the town."