A busy retail and leisure park in Wolverhampton has unveiled plans to expand with a view to attracting more business investment and creating new jobs. Bentley Bridge in Wednesfield, home to a multi-screen cinema, gym, bowling alley, variety of food and drink outlets and more than 20 major retail stores, employs over 500 people in total and has an average of 8,000 to 10,000 visitors every day.

A new drive-thru Starbucks is set to become the latest addition to the site, with the creation of 11 jobs. The cafe/restaurant will be built on part of the car park, joining a number of other restaurants including KFC, McDonald's and Tim Horton's, all of which have drive-thru facilities.

Planning permission has also been granted allowing Sports Direct to relocate from unit B6 to the larger unit B1. The new store will be open by June. Home Bargains will also move from unit C4 to units A1/A2, and is due to reopen by September.

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Wednesfield-born Sureena Brackenridge, who has been selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton NE in the next general elections, said this week: "I would like to congratulate the owners and management team at Bentley Bridge on moving the retail offer for our city forward. This is especially important as it comes at a time of huge concern for the economic future of retail shops and the jobs they deliver to local people.

"It's very pleasing for me to be able to congratulate them for reconfiguring the retail park to attract and accommodate new investment, and at the same time win planning permission from the city council for three applications. Bentley Bridge Retail Park is such an important asset to Wednesfield and is one of the prime retail sites in our city. It already delivers 500 local jobs and has proved its commitment to strengthening the local economy and building on its overall retail offer to local residents," she added.

Councillor Phil Bateman (Lab. Wednesfield North) said: "It is expected that along with new premises, the three planning permissions will add another estimated 150 full and part-time jobs to the retail workforce that will staff these initiatives. All of this economic activity and the improvement in retail activity will strengthen the jobs market for Wednesfield residents. Bentley Bridge Retail Park is well served by public transport links and has car parking space for 727 vehicles, so it remains a thriving and popular asset within our city economy."

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