Insider Media Limited

A new supermarket is to be built on the site of the former Severn Trent Water headquarters in Sheldon, Birmingham. Although no occupier has been confirmed, planning consultant CSJ Brooke Smith said that “ongoing negotiations” were underway with major retailers.

Birmingham City Council announced it would approve plans submitted by Birmingham-based CSJ Brooke Smith, on behalf of client Chase Midland Estate.

As part of the planning consent, Chase Midland Estate will make a £350,000 investment in the Sheldon district.

The outline planning permission will lead to the building of a 107,300 sq ft supermarket, together with 544 car parking spaces; some of these will be below the building, which will sit on stilts.

The final design will require “an additional consent”, confirmed CSJ Brooke Smith. The permission allows both food and non-food items to be sold.

The site in Sheldon has been vacant since the water company moved its base to Coventry. The owners will fund a number of major highway improvements, including the provision of a filter lane for traffic approaching from the direction of Birmingham Airport.

The pedestrian subway, which crosses the Coventry Road, will have £200,000 spent on improving it, as part of the cash injection to the entire region.

Associate director at CSJ Brooke Smith, Will Charlton, said: “We are very pleased that the scheme has won planning permission. It will be a huge boost for the local economy, bringing jobs and investment. It will help to kick-start the regeneration of this part of the city.”

Along with the food store, the three-level building will also provide a customer café, service yard, another retail unit and a glazed atrium with passenger conveyors, lifts and stairs leading up to store level. Warehouse and storage areas are also included.