New plans to solve Wolverhampton's supermarket problem

Jun 25 2009 by Alun Thorne, Birmingham Post

Property firm Peel has submitted a planning application for a 100,000 sq ft supermarket on the existing Peel Centre retail park in Stafford Street in Wolverhampton.

The application, if granted, could bring a solution to the city’s supermarket problem which to date has been held back due to the ongoing battle between Tesco and Sainsbury’s for the Raglan Street site.

The plans include 720 car parking spaces and would provide an estimated 500 jobs.

Peel believes the Peel Centre retail park is equally as good a location as that of Raglan Street for a new supermarket.

The company says it would offer a solution to the city’s supermarket shortage problem by providing either Sainsburys or Tesco with an alternative to Raglan Street, so that both retailers have the opportunity to get on and build the modern new stores that are needed.

Roger Wheeldon, senior development surveyor at Peel, said: “The Peel centre on Stafford Street is a superb well located site which is capable of providing a large modern foodstore.

“The site has excellent public transport links with over 500 buses a day passing it and it is close to the city centre, university and ring road.

“Our proposal also includes major improvements to the five ways roundabout and Cannock Road-Stafford Street junction.

“Most importantly our proposal gives the city the chance to break the Raglan street deadlock and provide one of the much-needed new stores for the city,” he added.