Work to demolish former Co-op department store underway

Work to demolish part of a former Co-op is underway, making way for the site of the new Tamworth College.

The contract for the demolition was awarded to Armac and South Staffordshire College is leading this part of the town centre redevelopment which will see the new college built on the old 1960s part Co-op site.

South Staffordshire College aim to open the new facility from September 2024.

Jeremy Oates, leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said: “It’s great to see our plans progressing. The demolition will begin this month of the 1960s parts of the Co-op department store, ready for the new and modern college to be built. The real hard work now begins, and we aim to minimise disruption to town centre businesses the best we can.

“The regeneration of Tamworth town centre is a key priority and we all need to pull together to fight for its future.

“Criteria for what the Future High Street funding can be spent on is very strict and is specifically to ‘renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability’.

“Just this one part of the Future High Streets project will see 1,500 more people regularly in the town centre, bringing further opportunities for town centre economic growth. This is just the first step in our ambitious plans to rejuvenate our town.”

Other plans for the town centre include:

Development of new affordable and flexible space for smaller, independent hospitality, leisure and retail businesses
Restoration of heritage features and buildings so they can be brought back into use
An improved entrance between the town centre and the Castle Grounds
More affordable office space
Improvements to Middle Entry
The transformation of St Editha’s Square into a multi-purpose events space