70 new jobs expected as Home Bargains heads for empty Willenhall shop

A unit at a retail park which has lain vacant since fire tore through it a decade ago could be brought back to life by a high street retailer in a multi-million pound plan.

Home Bargains is likely to be given permission to revamp the empty unit in Willenhall by Walsall Council at a meeting tomorrow.

The company has said up to 70 jobs could be created and £2 million spent on its revamp of the store, which was previously used by the home improvement chain Glyn Webb.

The unit, located off the Keyway Retail Park on Armstrong Way, is owned by Tesco.

High street retailers currently based at the retail park include Staples, B&M, Jollyes, Poundland, Burger King and Tesco.

But the council must give permission for the shop to sell a wider variety of goods than traders are currently permitted to there. They include production over selling health and beauty products, toys, household goods and food and drinks. They are currently there as part of conditions to protect retailers in Willenhall and Darlaston.

A council document states Home Bargains had looked at alternative sites in Willenhall, Darlaston and Wednesbury but found none were suitable.

Willenhall South councillor Carl Creaney welcomed the development.

He said: "I'm just glad that a building that has been empty is being brought back into use again. I'm glad it's going to create local jobs."

The discount retailer already employs about 12,000 members of staff across the UK.

As part of its plan, it wants to remove a customer entrance, reorganise the layout for car parking and build a pump house and sprinkler tank.

If councillors agree to the proposal, Home Bargains would be open from 8am until 10pm from Monday to Saturday and from 8am until 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The company said it wants to attract customers with cars to other out-of-town units.