The fate of one of Solihull's busiest local centres will be a step closer to being decided this week.

Shirley town centre has been earmarked for a £100 million regeneration programme which include additional shops, enhancements to Shirley Park and highways improvements.

A residents' group, Keep Shirley Alive, has opposed the plans on the grounds they are anchored on a new superstore. Group spokesman Richard Wise said the community had staged a 17- year battle against a superstore being built on the site of the Powergen building on the corner of Haslucks Green Road and Stratford Road.

However, the council looks set to back the latest proposals, produced by Shirley Advance, a partnership between the local authority and developers.

A scrutiny meeting will be held tomorrow at Shirley Royal British Legion, which is on the site earmarked for development.

Residents will be able to air their concerns at the meeting which will decide if the proposals meet the council's planning framework.

On Thursday the Conservative-controlled local authority's ruling cabinet will meet to decide whether Shirley Advance can submit a planning application, a council spokeswoman said.

The cabinet is also being asked to approve a compulsory purchase order, which will be made if a planning application is accepted.