When Newspoint closed after more than 20 years, Link Street was left without a convenience store. But things are set to change in the passage between the shopping centre and Grand Central.
The empty unit in Grand Central(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
Plans have been submitted for a license to open a new convenience store on Link Street at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre.
A licensing notice was displayed at the site showing that an application has been made to open a Simply Local convenience store at Unit 12, Link Street.
The application was submitted to birmingham-city-council>Birmingham City Council on Monday, January 19 and, if approved, the shop will open beside the unit left empty when Newspoint closed last summer.
Read more: This £17 Korean moisturiser ‘saved my dry skin’ and it’s on offer at Boots
It’s opposite Lane 7, in the unit that was previously used to house the pop-up Netflix charity shop.
Simply Local already has a presence in the city centre, with a branch on Stephenson Street.
It sells a range of items including fresh fruit, hot food and chilled drinks as well as groceries and snacks.
That branch also has a Costa Coffee machine, F’real milkshakes, Skwishee slushies, a cash point and it sells lottery tickets.
Newspoint had been a long-standing convenience store in the centre, opening when it did back in 2003.
The plans come as city centre retail continues to adapt, with convenience stores playing an increasingly important role for commuters and visitors.
Link Street is a major pedestrian route linking Birmingham New Street Station and Grand Central with the Bullring and is used daily by thousands of commuters through the city centre.
The site’s opening would be positive news following the closure of Newspoint, filling a space that has sat largely empty in recent years.
Members of the public can view the application on the Birmingham City Council website and nearby residents and businesses can submit representations to the council as part of the consultation process.
We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop with any more news on the unit as it becomes available, along with other Bullring and Grand Central new openings.
We’d like to invite you to subscribe to our CityLife newsletter for free daily updates so you don’t miss out.