Brownhills High Street shops could be seized so Aldi can build new supermarket on eyesore site

Walsall Council bosses are set to use compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers to buy up four shop units in order for the derelict site to be bulldozed to make way for a new supermarket.

Aldi, which owns most of the site, has been negotiating the purchases of the properties for four years but have so far been able to come to an agreement with the owners.

The company was granted planning permission for the development in 2022, giving hope that the saga of the centre, which has sat empty for well over a decade, would finally come to an end.

The authority’s cabinet will meet next week (December 11) and are being recommended to agree to use CPO powers in principle.

A spokesperson said the council will work with Aldi to ensure that the land and property to be purchased is essential in the delivery of the new shop.

Angry residents, businesses and local politicians have put up with anti-social behaviour at the site including arson and fly-tipping with the structures now in a dangerous condition.

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There have been false dawns before with a proposal for Tesco to take over failing to materialise. In 2019, a new plan for a gym and retail units also didn’t get off the ground.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, associate leader of Walsall Council, said: “Having been involved in this project for some years, along with ward members, it is great to see more movement taking place and recommitting to working with Aldi to deliver this project as we did a couple of years ago.

“We are committed to working to make this happen and remove this eyesore and hope that Aldi will take action to demolish as soon as possible to show the people of Brownhills their commitment to this project.

“There are four shop units on the high street within the development area which Aldi has been attempting to purchase since 2020, however they have not been able to reach an agreement with the owners.

“As a council we are considering our options to assist with this much-needed development, and while we do not take these decisions lightly, we will consider using compulsory purchase powers to make sure the redevelopment is able to go ahead if we need to.”