Major development at former Tamworth supermarket site receives further boost as trade giant joins project
Posted by james brindle | Published: 19/11/2021
Plans to create a new legacy for Central England Co-op’s former Tamworth supermarket have been boosted after one of the UK’s leading trade businesses joined the project which will see further new jobs on offer to the local community.
The site in Ninian Way, Wilnecote is set to be transformed into a brand-new retail and trade destination and alterations to the original plans to enable Travis Perkins, one of the largest suppliers of building materials to the UK’s building and construction industry, to create a huge new outlet have been given the green light by planners at Tamworth Borough Council.
Other names confirmed for the development include major chains Lidl, B&M, KFC, Starbucks, Greggs and Subway. Hawkstone Vale Developments Ltd is working with Central England Co-op to regenerate the site and offer these new and improved options for the local community, with work hoped to get underway in the first half of 2022.
While preparatory work for the development has been taking place the opportunity arose to utilise the former supermarket building to support the vital work of Newlife, the charity for disabled children, which has been using the site for much-needed retail and ancillary storage space.
A spokesperson for Central England Co-operative said: “The Society is delighted to welcome Travis Perkins to this significant development at our former supermarket in Ninian Way, Wilnecote and its involvement will help create even more local jobs and help the development become a key site for local trade professionals, as well as a great retail destination.
“We are excited to work with Hawkstone Vale to create this exciting development and create a legacy for the local community in Wilnecote, creating new and substantial local employment and a brand-new trade and retail destination.
“We would like to thank locals for their patience, and now these plans have been passed we look forward to pressing ahead with bringing the project to life for the community.”
The plans will see Travis Perkins relocate their current Tamworth branch to the site and enable them to expand significantly and take on more staff.
A Travis Perkins spokesperson says: “We are really excited by the opportunity to relocate our Tamworth Travis Perkins branch to the old Central England Co-op site on Ninian Way.
“It will launch in 2023 and will be three times larger than our previous site. Over the course of five years, it will create 13 jobs in the local community, in addition to the seven roles that will relocate from our older branch.
“The site is conveniently located close to the A5 to help serve the local construction industry and tradespeople, and it will include a brand new Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery, a Tool Hire, and a much-improved heavyside and timber range proposition. It will use sustainable products to help reduce carbon footprints.”
A video first look at the new development can be viewed here https://youtu.be/H7rWXkZ4Rn0
Notes to editors
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral and property investment.
Owned by hundreds of thousands of members, its over 7,800 colleagues serve customers across 400 plus trading sites in 16 counties in the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Its purpose is to inspire communities to create a sustainable Society for all.
It actively campaigns for the Government to increase sentencing for violent attacks on retail workers and works with FareShare Midlands and hundreds of food banks, generating enough food donations to create over 2.1 million meals for people in need.
The Society embraces inclusivity and equality and is a signed-up member to the Business in the Community (BITC) Race at Work Charter, while it is also fully committed to addressing the impact of climate change and is on track to be Carbon Neutral by 2030.
It invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities through its Community Dividend Fund scheme which has seen over £175,000 shared out between 116 good causes over the past 12 months.
Central England Co-op was named Leading Co-op of the Year by Co-operatives UK in 2021.
Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle
Phone - 01543 421390
Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop