Morrisons superstore scheme in Handsworth is approved
Dec 8 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail
ONE of Birmingham’s most deprived inner-city areas is set to get a major superstore for the first time – to the delight of residents.
Store giant Morrisons expects to open the supermarket on a derelict industrial site in Holyhead Road, Handsworth, in January 2011 after getting the go-ahead from city planners.
The store, near West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns ground, will employ 240 people.
Two residents’ groups, the Soho Finger and West Handsworth Forums, gave their backing to Morrisons and attended the planning committee meeting at which the scheme was approved.
Jean Allison, who has lived in Handsworth for 29 years said she was forced to travel to Oldbury for her main shop, while others made long journeys to stores in Perry Barr, Great Barr, Cape Hill and Smethwick.
She said: “So many people cannot shop in our area.
“For too long the view has been that Handsworth only needs small budget or convenience stores.
“But people want something upmarket in our area.”
Coun Sybil Spence (Lab, Soho) added: “This is an impoverished area, we need the investment and the jobs for local people.” Morrisons spokesman James Brook said the store would be good for the environment as it would result in fewer long car journeys to stores out of the area and would help those who did not drive.
And he dismissed claims the store would harm the Soho Road shopping area.
“The evidence from Small Heath, where there is a Morrisons and Asda stores is that this did not happen,” he said.
Mr Brook said the store chain would handing £750,000 to Birmingham City Council to fund a town centre manager for Soho Road and pay for improvements in the area. Representatives of developer J Ross Developments were against the scheme, claiming their Bills House building site on Soho Hill provided a more suitable location for a food store. .
Committee member Coun Adrian Delaney (Cons, Weoley) said normally he would be unhappy to redesignate industrial land for retail use but would make an exception to back the store scheme.
“But this site has been a vacant eyesore for 15 years and might never be developed.
“This will bring 240 jobs to the area and I welcome it,” he said.
The planning committee’s unanimous approval must now be rubber-stamped by the Government before building work can begin.
