Decision due by communities secretary

Holder Mathias has been given planning for a £100 million retail village in Staffordshire – although the scheme still needs to be approved by government.

The scheme at Mill Green in Cannock will feature 130 designer retail units, restaurants, outdoor play area and parking for 2,000 cars.

Running across more than 26,500sq m it will be the largest of its kind in the Midlands and is being developed by the renamed Development Securities, U&I, along with Kent-based Rioja Developments.

It will be built next door to a local nature reserve and the decision by Cannock Chase council has now been sent to communities secretary Greg Clark to decide whether he should call it in.