New square scheme enters new phase

The existing car park opposite Queen's Square Shopping Centre will close on Wednesday, 10 April, and the new temporary car park, situated off Cronehills Linkway, will open in its place.

The temporary car park will be managed by the council and will provide 400 short stay parking spaces for town centre shoppers.

The new car park is situated less than five minutes walk away from the centre and signage is being erected along the pedestrian walkway from the car park to the town centre to help direct people to the shops and local facilities.

The Queen's Square multi-storey car park will remain open throughout the construction programme.

Jonathan Simpson, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "A key part of the scheme is it's dovetailing with the town centre and as the site boundary moves closer to the heart of West Bromwich, people will be able to get a sense of how the new centre will integrate with the existing offering."

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell's cabinet member for jobs and economy, said: "It is good to see the town centre development taking shape. It has taken years of preparation and planning and when completed it will completely transform West Bromwich town centre."

Sean Delaney, senior project manager for contractor VINCI Construction UK Ltd, said: "Occupying this part of the site will mean that we can continue to progress the scheme and move forward with the first elements of the construction to the store and retail units on the New Square development.

"The temporary car park will be well lit and provide 400 spaces for visitors to the town centre."

The 437,000sq ft scheme, anchored by 139,000sq ft Tesco store will provide a new retail and leisure destination for the town. National retailers Primark, Next, Arcadia, JD Sports and Bank have already signed up to take space in the development.

The development also includes a 36,000sq ft cinema and restaurant space, with 1,900 car parking spaces. It is expected to be open by summer 2013.