A circa £30 million construction programme for The
Junction, Oldbury could commence in mid-2012 reports the developer
for the scheme; The Junction Limited Partnership.
Bounded by Bromford Road, Dudley Road, Oldbury Ringway and
Fountain Lane, the 15.3 hectare site (38 acres) has planning
permission for a 300,000 sq ft mixed-use development incorporating
open A1 non-food and bulky goods, leisure uses and A3/4/5
restaurant premises. There is also permission for up to 1,500 car
parking spaces.
A Section 73 application to vary conditions to make the
development viable in the current economic climate will be
submitted shortly to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. The
application paves the way for development activity commencing next
year. Demolition of redundant buildings and the start of
remediation works for the former industrial land has already taken
place, demonstrating The Junction's commitment to developing this
prime site adjacent to Oldbury town centre.
Subject to the Section 73 approval being received by spring
2012, together with a number of occupier pre-let agreements being
in place, a main contractor would be appointed to commence work by
summer 2012. The targeted date for completion of the development is
late 2013.
Jo Lord, Managing Director, Retail Parks at Capital &
Regional, managers of The Junction said: "The Junction, Oldbury is
a key development project within our UK wide portfolio. We are keen
to bring this site forward as soon as possible and we have been
working closely with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to make
this a reality.
"640,000 people are estimated to live within a 20 minute drive
of the site, which provide a substantial catchment area for a
variety of high quality retailers who we are currently in
discussions with. The site is also located on an arterial route
into Oldbury, with many bus services passing the development and
being within easy walking distance of Oldbury town centre, our
development has been designed as an extension of the traditional
town centre, giving shoppers a wider choice and more reason to
visit."
Cllr Ian Jones, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy comments:
"Hundreds of jobs for local people would be created by the
development of The Junction. The range of new retail premises would
also give more choice to local shoppers and encourage thousands
more people to visit Oldbury each week.
"This is exactly the type of development we need to encourage in
the current climate to boost our local economy and enhance a key
town centre for the Borough. Furthermore, if building work could
start in summer 2012, this would immediately create a large number
of construction jobs for local people."