Work progressing on Wednesbury's £12m Gallagher Retail Park expansion
Expansion work is currently under way at a retail park in the Black Country which will become home to a host of new shops, including top brands, and restaurants.
Workmen are busy on the new £12 million extension at Gallagher Retail Park in Wednesbury which is taking built on an existing car park.
Diggers have moved in on the site to pave the way towards the arrival of top brands at the retail park, close to the junction of the M54 and M6.
The project includes the reconfiguration of existing retail units at the park, along with the construction of new retail and food units and a car park refurbishment.
James Bidwell, partner at Quadrant Estates, which own the retail park, said: "Workers are on site and progression is on schedule.
"The new tenants will provide even greater vibrancy and vitality to Gallagher Retail Park. The plans also include making substantial improvements to access, car parking and landscaping of the park.
"We're looking forward to completing the work in various stages in early spring next year."
Nandos, Currys, Oak Furnitureland, Sofology, Tapi Carpets, Mod Pizza, Smashburger and Costa Coffee will move to the new site, creating more than 200 jobs in total.
An M&S Food Hall will take 11,000 sq ft of the downsized Currys' unit on a 20-year lease. Currys and PC World will merge and open as a three-in-one megastore with a new Carphone Warehouse store.
Concerns about traffic due to improvement works have been raised with Councillor Bob Lloyd.
He said: "Quite a few people have commented about the traffic chaos.
"It's a bit concerning as we get to Christmas but when the work is finished it will bring jobs for local people and hopefully encourage more people to visit the town centre.
"I think retail jobs will play a big part for people in the West Midlands. The retail park is fantastic place and millions of people live within a 30 minute journey from there."
The revamp started in August and is expected to take 34 weeks to complete, with hopes of being completed by Spring.
The 200,000 sq ft retail park is already a popular destination for shoppers and already has a number of high profile names such as Next, Outfit, Mamas and Papas, Boots, Furniture Village, TK Maxx, Burger King, Pizza Hut, SCS and Harveys.
