Council boss in appeal over West Brom move

The leader of Sandwell Council has written to board members of The West Brom building society in a bid to persuade them not to uproot to a business centre in the Dudley borough, it has been revealed.

The society has been in talks with Sandwell Council about moving to a new home at the £75 million Providence Place development in West Bromwich.

But society chiefs now say the asking price is higher than anticipated and revealed they are considering several other locations.

These include the Point North development, on The Waterfront near to Merry Hill shopping centre at Brierley Hill.

Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper has now written to executive board members, including society chief executive Jonathan Westhoff, asking them not to re-locate. The debate over the asking price is discussed in the letter but Councillor Cooper said that could not be revealed as it was the subject of negotiations.

Councillor Cooper also revealed the authority have another blue chip client interested in the space which would be occupied by the society, if the deal does not go through as planned. He added: "As leader of the council I have written to the board members individually.

"I have told them of the benefits of staying in the borough, and of the fact the development is in such a prominent place, next to to other global brands in BT and the £200 million Tesco development."

It is believed the society's move to Dudley would be able to go ahead sooner than relocating to Providence Place, which could be completed in 14 months' time at the earliest.