£7m Queens Square shops overhaul on target

Queens Square Shopping Centre in West Bromwich is being overhauled under a £7 million scheme.

And this picture shows how the frontage of the centre, which sits on the town's High Street, is taking shape.

Steelwork to the new high street glazed atrium is now complete and the Mall 1 entrance will be following suit now the canopy and entrance area have been demolished opposite The Public.

Melvin Glasby, centre manager at Queens Square said: "The refurbishment is progressing well and we are doing our best to minimalise the disruption for visitors at the centre.

"Crash desks are now up in most of the malls to allow for high level strip-out works and installation of glazed roof lights to introduce more natural light to the malls.

"We are also half-way with the roof replacement works and towards the end of October, the new washroom facilities will be open to the public.

"Each day, we are one step closer to getting a glimpse of what the centre holds for the visitors in 2014."

Refurbishment includes a new main High Street entrance, improved malls and new toilets. It will also be given a brighter feel thanks to plans to introduce more daylight into the shopping centre.

Nearly £7 million, including a £3 million contribution by Sandwell Council, is being invested on improving the shopping centre in the coming years. The first phase of work, which sees improved malls and the new entrance installed, is under way and will be completed by spring 2014.

The work complements other work currently being undertaken by Tesco at the shopping centre to link it to the £200m New Square development, as well as the ongoing £8.2m Public Realm project to revamp the pedestrian high street, with new paving, seating, lighting and landscaping.

Queens Square shopping centre remains open throughout its makeover.