MAJOR £4 million redevelopment of Bromsgrove Retail Park has now begun, as the town gets set to welcome an array of new shops.

Five units will be created at the Birmingham Road site, with work due to be completed during the first half of 2018.

One plot was recently under offer by Marks & Spencer’s Foodhall, although their arrival – and names of other outlets – is yet to be confirmed.

Site owners IM Properties hope major redevelopment of the existing 53,000 sq ft will provide a “significantly improved” attraction to Bromsgrove.

Richard Sykes, development manager at IM Properties, said: "From our perspective, Bromsgrove offers us a great opportunity to expand our retail portfolio and deliver a significantly improved retail offer for the town centre.

"We are excited to now be on-site and look forward to announcing the line-up of retailers in the near future."

Bromsgrove Advertiser:

(ABOVE: Richard Sykes and Dan Butler from IM Properties with Tim Mills from Benniman are happy to be starting work on the Birmingham Road site)

Local construction company, Benniman – based at Harris Business Park in Stoke Prior – began work on the site this month.

Work includes the demolition and remediation of an existing petrol filling station and the removal of facades from the existing structures, prior to re-cladding and installing new shop fronts.

Benniman director Tim Mills said: "It's great for our business to be involved in this scheme.

“IM Properties is one of the largest investors in the Midlands and well respected.

“To partner with them on the Birmingham Road project is a good opportunity for ourselves and one we believe can only benefit Bromsgrove."

IM Properties, based in Coleshill in Warwickshire, is a significant investor in the Midlands.

Notable local projects include the popular Mell Square Shopping Centre and Blythe Valley Park – both in Solihull.