There’s good news for shoppers in Walsall today as the Saddlers Centre confirmed today it has completed four new deals during the lockdown period.

The centre located on Park Street has completed four new lettings to a mixture of independent retailers and community organisations. The centre has 51 units in total and has recently celebrated its 40^th birthday. The centre remained partially open during the lockdown period with its Heron supermarket serving the local community. Walsall Council purchased Saddlers in 2017 as part of an ambitious masterplan strategy and the town is currently bidding for £25million from the Government’s Future High Street Fund.

The new lettings have been made to; Eden’s Weigh which will be Walsall’s first zero waste store and will be located on Bradford Mall near the food hub. A new phone accessory store “My Phone” will open in the former Carphone Warehouse Unit.  From the charitable sector, Four Steps to a Smile will relocate their Walsall base to Park Mall near the train station. Four Steps to a Smile was established in 2001 with a simple mission: No child should go without. The charity provides emotional and practical support to women living in refuges with children. Finally, One Walsall already will also be taking Unit 23 &24 on Bradford Mall to provide services from the centre.

The new lettings were completed by joint agents for the centre; Avison Young and Wright Silverwood.

Councillor Mike Bird, leader of Walsall Council comments:

“These lettings are testament to the continued efforts of our teams both before and during lockdown. We have worked closely with our letting agents and managing agents throughout this period to manage some very challenging situations and messages but ultimately to support our retailers and communities. The new stores will enhance the offer at Saddlers and are very welcome news.”

Nigel Foster of Avison Young, managing agent for Avison Young who manage the Saddlers Centre on behalf of Walsall Council adds;

“We have tried really hard to support our retailers with practical measures throughout lockdown including providing marketing support packs and return to opening information. Our communications were up by 47% in the first month of lockdown alone as we responded to an ever changing situation and worked hard to keep the public informed. This combined with our practical measures of enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures is seeing footfall steadily and safely return to the centre.”