Supermarket chain quits Dudley town after row over bus station plan
A town centre supermarket is to close next month as a result of plans for a new bus station.
Last year it was reported that Farmfoods was refusing to move from its site in Fisher Street, Dudley, unless the council found it a new location 38 times bigger than its existing store.
Dudley Council wants to demolish the building opposite Birdcage Walk as part of plans for a £24 million bus station.
It began compulsory purchase proceedings for the shop last year after the retailer refused to move.
The store, which had four years of its lease to run, will close on September 17, with no plans for a replacement.
Farmfoods' property director Alistair Kay said: "Our shop in Dudley sits within the development site for the new interchange in the town centre.
"We understand the existing bus station is the second busiest in the region but is no longer considered fit for purpose.
"We have been in negotiation with the council over an extended period of time and despite attempts to identify an alternative site for us to relocate to, unfortunately nothing suitable has been found.
"The shop will therefore close next month."
Mr Kay thanked all customers who had used the shop over the years.
It is not known how many jobs are affected.
A statement issued with a compulsory purchase order lodged by the council last year said that the retailer occupied 2,842 sq ft of space, covering the ground floor and basement of the building.
The company extended its lease by 10 years in August, 2017, the statement said.
It said the company did not want to relocate to premises of an equivalent size or location, and was instead demanding a unit of more than 100,000 sq ft, with customer parking and facilities for HGV delivery on a busy main road and in a built-up residential location.
It said premises equivalent to the ones it presently occupied had been identified, but rejected by the company.
The transport interchange scheme, which will see the 36-year-old bus station demolished and replaced with a new site linking bus and tram services, was granted full planning permission in September last year. Work has been delayed due to problems securing 27 per cent of the land required.
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