Morgan Sindall appointed to deliver Walsall’s £8m town centre regeneration scheme
CONSTRUCTOR Morgan Sindall has been appointed by Walsall Council to deliver the first phase of a major £8m regeneration project set to transform the town centre.
The multi-million pound redevelopment of part of the Old Square Shopping Centre is being led by Walsall Council after the authority agreed the unusual step last April to fund the scheme from its own cash reserves.
The project involves the demolition of the part of the Old Square Shopping Centre’s former Tesco building and surrounding units and the construction of a new 54,000 sq ft development, which will house fashion retailer Primark and the Midcounties Co-operative’s Food Store.
The demolition phase of the project has just started and is expected to take four months to complete.
Cllr Adrian Andrew, regeneration and transport leader for Walsall Council, said: “We’re delighted to appoint Morgan Sindall as contractor for this scheme.
“This new development will breathe further life into the town centre and this investment shows we’re looking for a long-term revival of the town.
“Creating jobs and providing opportunities for retailers to flourish and provide an improved town centre offer here in Walsall is one of our top priorities.”
Ben Reid, chief executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “The Midcounties Co-operative has strong roots in Walsall that date back over 125 years. We have identified a real demand for a food store offering in the town centre, which is why we are investing in a new store at the Old Square Shopping Centre re-development. We are looking forward to launching a store that meets the needs of the Walsall community next year.”
The project is due to complete in spring 2015 and will provide a welcome boost to the local economy, with sub-contractors and companies drawn from across the local area working on the development.
Surrounding shops and services will be open for business throughout the demolition and construction phases. Since January, traders at Walsall Market have been allocated new pitches to create room for the controlled-access construction zone.
Richard Fielding, Rugby-based Morgan Sindall’s area director, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Walsall Council on this ambitious project. Morgan Sindall has extensive experience in successfully delivering large-scale regeneration projects, which we’re looking forward to bringing to bear on this scheme.
“The development will have a very positive impact on people in the local community – giving the economy a boost through the creation of jobs for local sub-contractors and also providing the people of Walsall with a first-class facility.”
