PLANS for a multi-million pound new supermarket in Bromsgrove have been scrapped it has been announced.

Sainsbury's received planning permission for a 45,000 square foot store at Bromsgrove Retail Park, in Birmingham Road, in 2010.

The plans for the store included fresh food counters, a customer restaurant, toilets, 480 car parking spaces, and landscaping of the site.

The firm also entered into a legal agreement to provide more than £500,000 of financial contributions on town walking and cycling schemes, as well as footing the bill for improvements to The Strand and Birmingham Road and the Parkside crossroads junction.

Doubts began to emerge as WHAT! Stores opened on the site, the Co-operative Food supermarket was granted a five year lease in 2014, and Sainsbury's revealed it was not going ahead with a number of proposed stores nationally after announcing millions of pounds in losses.

When questioned by the Advertiser the firm has continually reaffirmed its commitment but in a statement released today, (June 16), a spokesman for Sainsbury's finally admitted the supermarket will not be built.

The spokesman said the decision has not been taken lightly and the firm recognised the news would come as a disappointment to many Bromsgrove residents.

"Since the proposals were first announced, shopping patterns have changed considerably and following an internal review, the scheme is no longer viable for us," the spokesman said.

"We are now looking at alternative uses for the site and will keep the community updated.”

Bromsgrove District Council's leader, Councillor Margaret Sherrey said: "While this is sad news it reflects the national picture and we will continue to work with Sainsbury’s to develop the site to work towards a better Bromsgrove."