Coventry and Warwickshire shoppers won't have to travel too far for outlet shopping, it has been revealed, after plans for a Bicester Village-style outlet were given the go-ahead.
Work is set to get underway for the Mill Green Designer Outlet Village next year, after Westminster gave the go-ahead for the giant plot in Cannock.
It is hoped the village will be open by 2018, with developers U+I and Rioja Developments hoping to attract three million visitors a year after the Government's Communities Secretary Greg Clark backed the proposals.
Stretching over an area the equivalent of six football pitches, the project will see more than £110million ploughed in as developers seek to create 1,200 jobs.
It is thought designer brands like Lacoste, Diesel, and Ralph Lauren are already being targeted for outlet stores at Mill Green.
Giles Membrey, Rioja Developments’ managing director, said: “There is no doubt it will bring tremendous socio-economic benefits to the West Midlands, making Mill Green Designer Outlet Village a ‘must go to’ destination for the region.
“We can now look forward to making a start on construction of the outlet village by the end of 2016.”
Richard Upton, deputy chief executive at U+I, added: “The new outlet centre could generate more than £500 million of socio-economic improvements over the next ten years.
"The secretary of state’s decision is critical - it will help pave the way for extensive investment, job creation and regeneration which will be of benefit to Cannock and the wider region.”
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The 285,300 sq ft outlet village will provide up to 130 designer outlet stores, new restaurants and around 2,000 car parking spaces on a site located next to the Mill Green Nature Reserve.
Bosses hope to attract some of the most exclusive names in fashion into the area, as well as popular brands like Cath Kidson, Boss and Jack Wills and sports giants Nike and Adidas.
The move comes just weeks after Resorts World, the multi-million lakeside complex which is the first of its kind in Europe, opened at the NEC complex.
Surely it will take even more business away from city centre retailers?
