Sainsbury's half-a-million for Bromsgrove town centre

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BROMSGROVE Town Centre will receive a welcome £500,000 boost from Sainsbury’s after planning permission was granted for the 8,499sq metre store to be built on Birmingham Road.

The cash will be used for redeveloping several areas, including The Strand and the High Street and will also pay for improvements to pedestrianised routes and cycle lanes, along with bus shelters and services.

The lion’s share, some £347,850, will be put towards town centre landscaping improvements, £100,000 will be used for sustainable transport and £50,000 will be used for the regeneration of the walking and cycling routes.

Del Booth, Bromsgrove District Council portfolio holder for town centre regeneration, said he was delighted with the half-a-million pound investment.

“Creating the building blocks for a successful High Street and retail centre is a key priority for this council and the clear focus of the wider regeneration partnership.

“It will complement the commitment of the regeneration partners as well as the pending Townscape Heritage Initiative, and the improvements it will enable will benefit everyone who lives, works, visits or does business in Bromsgrove for years to come.”

Worcestershire County Councillor, Coun Anthony Blagg, said: ‘We welcome the Sainsbury’s development as part of the town centre regeneration scheme, especially as it will be linked to the high street with brand new walkways.’’

Despite this latest development, it is still unclear as to when the new Sainsbury’s will be opening.

A spokesperson for the supermarket told The Standard it was still committed to opening the store, but that the company was waiting for existing leases over the site to expire before work could begin.

This news of the £500,000 comes just days before the clearance of Bromsgrove High Street is due to start.

Work on that, subject to approval at Monday’s planning meeting, will begin on Tuesday (February 7).