DEMOLITION work is taking place this week to bring down a 18-storey former tenement building to make way for a new supermarket development.
Dorset Tower, in the Ladywood district of the Birmingham, is coming down as part of Tesco’s plans to build a new store in the area.
The 52m building behind Spring Hill Library has lain derelict for a number of years and Tesco has been working with the city council to incorporate the land into the site of their new store.
Once the building has been demolished, the site will be used to house a new petrol station and additional parking for the 4,000 sq ft store.
It is estimated that the shop, which is due to open by the end of the year, will create around 300 new full and part-time jobs.
This mixed-use development will also provide a block of six new apartments, four non-Tesco retail units and additional office space.
Tesco’s corporate affairs manager Tony Fletcher said: “This spells the beginning of a new era for this part of Birmingham.
“When we consulted local residents in the area on our scheme, many of them asked us to do something to remove the eyesore that is Dorset Tower. And in our working closely with the council, we have been able to do just that.”
The demolition work is being carried out by Birmingham-based DSM Demolition and is expected to be completed within six weeks.
