Work on new Birkenhead supermarket to start this autumn

Aug 11 2010 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

WORK on a major new supermarket development in Wirral’s main shopping area is expected to get under way within months.

The new Asda will be approximately 90,000 square feet and will front onto Grange Road – part of the main shopping area.

Building work is expected to get under way this autumn, with 95 jobs being created during construction and up to 320 new full and part-time jobs by the third year of trading.

The development has been in the pipeline for several years, and two years ago the council began using compulsory purchase orders to push ahead with the £40m supermarket-based scheme, which had been approved by planners after almost four years in development.

Earlier this year, Wirral’s cabinet agreed in a behind closed doors meeting to cut the price of the car park on which part of the store will be built from £2m to £500,000.

They also agreed to revised terms for the scheme – on the proviso that they will be given a date for start of work on the development.

Cllr Simon Holbrook, deputy leader of Wirral Council and cabinet member for corporate resources said: “This news is a real boost to the Wirral economy and is a vote of confidence in Birkenhead town centre from a major retailer.”

In August last year, a public inquiry into the proposed store, prompted by retailer B&M’s refusal to accept a compulsory purchase order, almost saw the scheme abandoned. Philip Bartram, property communications manager for Asda said: “We are delighted to be able to progress our plans, which will provide significant employment opportunities.”