MAJOR work to revamp the bus station at intu Merry Hill is set to get under way next week.

intu and Transport for West Midlands, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, will be carrying out the bus station refurbishment programme from Monday January 16.

Shopping mall owners intu are investing £550,000 into remodelling the busy bus station which, when the refit is finished, will include real-time information boards and brand new enclosed shelters with covered walkways and automatic doors.

Dan Murphy, general manager at intu Merry Hill, said: “intu has £600m of development planned over the next three years with something happening at every centre.

"These developments create sought-after destinations for our customers and our retailers. The modernisation of the bus station is the first stage of an on-going scheme of improvements here at intu Merry Hill which shoppers will experience over the coming years.

“Around one-in-five of our shoppers arrive by bus, so we want the bus station to meet the high standards they have come to expect from the rest of the centre.”

Councillor Richard Worrall, chairman of Transport for West Midlands, said: “intu Merry Hill is one of the biggest retail and employment centres in the West Midlands and good public transport links and infrastructure are of huge importance, so I am delighted we are able to work with intu in improving bus facilities there.”

The station refit is due to be complete by late spring.

While the works are being carried out the car park near Matalan will be partially closed but the bus station will remain open throughout the redevelopment.

Certain stands, however, will no longer be in use.

For more information on stand changes go to www.networkwestmidlands.com