Old Mercedes dealership to become supermarket

The site on Dudley Road is set to become home to a supermarket and five takeaway restaurants

A former Mercedes Benz dealership in Walsall is set to become home to a supermarket and five takeaway restaurants.

Plans have been approved for the closed site on Dudley Street, with the new complex set to support up to 70 full-time and part-time jobs.

Walsall Council assessed the proposals after more than 10 people signed a petition against it, with critics raising concerns about increased traffic and anti-social behaviour.

The plan's supporters said it would help regenerate the town, with one councillor saying praising those behind it for investing in the area.

The council's planning committee approved the plans last week and they include a new glass frontage, 24-hour security office, a bike store, and a reconfigured car park with 63 spaces and eight disabled bays.

Suky Samra, Conservative councillor for Streetly, moved the motion to approve the proposals in line with planning officers' recommendations.

Samra said: "It's quite commendable that somebody wants to invest in Walsall. We’ve got derelict building after derelict building. This shows somebody wants to put money back.

"This is beneficial to regeneration. To put Walsall on the map we must support these schemes."

Eileen Russell, Labour councillor for St Matthews and one of the speakers against the proposals, said that "Walsall already has enough takeaways" and the new complex would result in more traffic.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.