John Lewis sets out plan to create 650 new jobs in Birmingham
AROUND 650 new jobs are set to be created when the new John Lewis department store anchoring the redevelopment of Birmingham’s New Street Station opens in two years time.
The pledge came from the partnership’s managing director Andy Street, who visited the site of the development yesterday, accompanied by Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore and Network Rail chief David Higgins.
Mr Street said the 250,000 sq ft store would be the company’s largest outlet outside London and would firmly establish Birmingham as the retail capital of the Midlands.
He also pledged that the store’s recruitment policy would be carried out in conjunction with Birmingham City Council’s employment team to ensure the needs of the city were met.
Mr Street said: “We are very pleased to be playing a part in the regeneration of Birmingham city centre and believe this will cement the city’s status as a key UK retail destination. With construction of John Lewis Birmingham now under way, we are looking forward to fulfilling our long term ambition of bringing our unique retail and employment offer to the city.”
Mr Higgins, chief executive of Network Rail said the exciting changes taking shape at New Street showed how investment in transport infrastructure could benefit cities and communities by triggering regeneration, new jobs and economic growth.
“With a new John Lewis and Pallasades coming in 2014, and a state of the art station complete in 2015, Birmingham has a lot to look forward to,” he said.
Work to redevelop the Pallasades centre got underway in 2011 and the demolition of Stephenson Tower earlier this year paved the way for construction of the new John Lewis store. The new Pallasades shopping centre will provide 150,000sq ft of retail space.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “In the coming months, residents and visitors will start to see the station and the John Lewis store take shape. We welcome the retail offer it will bring to the city, boosting the local economy by more than £25m each year along with the opportunity for 650 local people to take up new jobs in the store.”
With the foundations laid, the superstructure of the shop will start to take shape over the coming months. The station will remain open throughout construction and Network Rail said passengers would notice the first major change in April 2013 when the new concourse opens. The station redevelopment is due for completion in 2015.
