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Public support Willenhall regeneration plans

Public support Willenhall regeneration plans

Public support Willenhall regeneration plans

5 June 2007

Willenhall residents have given a resounding thumbs up to plans to redevelop the town centre, with 100 per cent of visitors to a public exhibition saying they wanted to see a new foodstore in the town.

Over 100 visitors to a public consultation day held at Willenhall Youth and Community Centre were asked to fill in a questionnaire which asked for their views on the development and for any further comments.  The feedback from everybody was positive, with responses including:

  • “Bringing a large store to the town centre will dramatically improve the town centre”
  • “Great idea to save Willenhall”
  • “At last some money spent in Willenhall”
  • “I think it will bring more trade to Willenhall”
  • “Essential to the progress of the town”

Dransfield Properties and Gallagher Estates are leading the £30 million regeneration scheme which will deliver a 75,000 sq ft foodstore, 542 space town centre car park and a new access road on the site of the former Yale factory on Wood Street and the Clemson Street car park.  A mixture of houses and apartments is planned for the eastern part of the site and the whole area would undergo public realm enhancements.

The development has been designed to reduce trade leakage from Willenhall – currently 70 per cent of people travel out of town to do their food shopping and 94 per cent travel out of town for their non food shopping. 

The introduction of a new foodstore would claw back a substantial amount of this trade leakage, and the linked shopping trips visitors would make when in the town would boost the trade of existing businesses.

The plans have been submitted to Walsall Borough Council and are expected to be considered by members over the summer.

Andrew Malley, Retail Property Director of Dransfield Properties, said: “We believe that these proposals will deliver great benefits for the town and we are delighted that there is such strong local support.  The foodstore will underpin the town’s economy and kickstart the long term regeneration of the area, which is something everybody in Willenhall is determined to see.”

 

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk