Case Studies

Walsall, Junction 9, M6

The original site was a 70 acre foundry owned by F H Lloyd. The site had limited access as there was no direct access to the M6. In 1988, Gallagher acquired land fronting Wood Green Road which provides direct access to Junction 9 on the M6 and subsequently entered into a joint venture with Triplex for the development of the site.

In November 1989 BCDC approved consent for 185,000 sq. ft. retail for an Ikea store, 64,500 sq. ft. non-food retail, a fast food outlet, 172,500 sq. ft. business use B1, a public house and residential. Planning consent was also granted for the construction of a new access road through the site and a loop road access on to the Junction 9 of the M6. The site was difficult to develop because of mineshafts, contamination and the need to divert the River Tame.

Following the reclamation the first part of the development to take place was the construction of the Ikea store and the access road through the site. Further land was sold to Ikea for expansion to the north of their site.

In 1993 planning consent was granted for a 102,000 sq. ft. unit to be occupied by Cargoclub. Subsequently this Company ceased trading and the site was redeveloped for a B & Q retail warehouse of a similar size.

A 64,500 sq. ft. retail development (Phase 1) was undertaken and completed in 1995. The units were let to Currys and P C World. The restaurant was let to Burgerking. Planning consent for 90,000 sq. ft. of non-food retail and 140,000 sq. ft. of B1/B8 was approved in 1996.

In 1998 Gallaghers bought out the Triplex interest in the scheme and became the sole owners of the development.

Phase 2 development comprising 90,000 sq. ft. of retail was constructed and opened for trading in 2000, occupied by Currys relocating from Phase 1, Furniture Village, Furnitureland and ScS. The original Currys unit was re-let to M.F.I. Planning consent was also granted for two restaurants which were let to Pizza Hut and KFC in 2002.

Planning consent was granted in 2001 for 30,000 sq. ft. of retail (Phase 3) and 40,000 sq. ft. of warehousing. A Reserved Matters planning consent has been approved for a 30,500 sq. ft. retail unit to be occupied by PC World. On Phase 1 negotiations are well advanced with open A1 non-food retail operators, in taking space following refurbishment of the building.

Phase 3 has been developed and let to PC World, who relocated from Phase 1. Phase 1 is being redeveloped. Next have already opened for trade in a 25,000 sq.ft. unit and terms have been agreed on the remaining space with national multiple fashion retailers.