Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has unveiled long awaited plans for its new Selly Oak development.
Proposals for the former Battery site include a big store, 20 shops, cafes, restaurants, bars offices, student housing, two hotels and a petrol station.
It will feature a waterfront square on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, which the company says will re-establish Selly Oak as an attractive destination.
The 13 hectare development is also expected to create 3,000 jobs for the area.
The site has been earmarked for redevelopment for the last four years and following the completion of Selly Oak New Road the company is ready to begin construction on the store, designed to replace the existing Selly Oak branch.
A planning application will be submitted shortly following a public consultation.
Neil Carron, project director with developers Land Securities, said: ”These are exciting plans that will make a real difference to Selly Oak. They will not only see the land reclaimed and redeveloped into a vibrant destination but also create 3,000 much-needed jobs.”
Both Sainsbury’s and Land Securities have agreed to clean up the former Battery industrial site and make improvements to access from Selly Park and revitalise Bournbrook Park.
Two years ago Sainsbury’s sparked fury when it demolished the historic 1871 Battery and Metals Building on the site because it had become “unsafe”.
This was despite a pledge to retain it in the redevelopment.
The plans are currently available online at www.sellyoak-regeneration.co.uk
