Quadrant Estates has been given planning permission to give Wednesbury’s Gallagher Retail Park a facelift to attract more shoppers to the busy complex.

Planning officers at Sandwell Council have backed the project, which also aims to provide more choice for shoppers and encourage them to stay longer.

James Bidwell, associate director for Quadrant Estates, said construction work was expected to begin in January next year.

Bosses are in talks with national restaurant chains in a bid to sign them up for the units, with the businesses set to open by the end of 2016.

Wednesbury councillor Elaine Costigan has welcomed the development, saying: “This is great news for Wednesbury and is bringing more jobs, which are very needed. I am going to be shown the full plans next week and I am looking forward to seeing what they have planned.”

The plans also include changes to the car parks at the retail park, which is near junction 9 of the M6, to make it easier for shoppers to get around and ease congestion. At peak times, queues can build up on the site making it difficult for to drivers to get around.

The new restaurants will be built at the centre of the site, off Axletree Way, on land which is currently used for parking.

They will join existing food chains including Pizza Hut, Burger King and Starbucks as well as shops such as Ikea, Next, Decathlon and Boots.

There will be an additional 101 car park spaces created by the changes to the layout as well as footpaths and a pedestrian crossing.

Source: Express & Star