Wolverhampton city centre transformation starts this month

Works will start this month on the first phase of the Council’s multi million pound transformation of the city centre to create events spaces, improve public realm and support businesses.

Contractors Eurovia will carry out the works and are currently setting up their site compound off Peel Street. Phase one focuses on the west of the city centre, with advanced works facilitating the start of main works in August on Salop Street and Victoria Street, which will support the Council’s 2022 events programme.

Advanced works will begin on Monday 12 July, with lane closures and temporary signals on Bell Street, with one weekend of overnight road closures for carriageway resurfacing between 30 July and 2 August.

The main works will also see the creation of a box park on Bell Street that will provide a new food and beverage offer and play host to live entertainment.

Demolition of unused buildings in Cleveland Parade will enable the creation of a car park for visitors to the box park and neighbouring businesses. The scheme - expected to be completed in 2023 - is being funded from the £15.7 million secured by the Council from the Government’s Future High Street Fund.

A further phase of work will also start this year to develop the street scene around the Civic Halls ahead of its reopening in 2022 following a major refurbishment. The new investment in public realm and events spaces will help to boost the city centre economy as the city looks to relight following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is envisaged the works will also unlock a wider package of investment, creating hundreds of new jobs, the opportunity to deliver hundreds of new city centre homes, a hotel and public space improvements.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Environment & Climate Change, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “This will be transformational for our city centre and will form a key part of Wolverhampton’s recovery plan following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Confidence to invest in the City of Wolverhampton remains high and we are working with a wide range of key partners and stakeholders to continue to stimulate and accelerate growth.  

“The Future High Street Fund works will build on this and, most importantly deliver real, tangible benefits for businesses, residents and visitors to our city centre, supporting the development of our 5 year events strategy, which will get into full swing in 2022, with the Commonwealth Games cycling time trial, British Art Show 9, our first ever Creation Day Festival and the reopening of our Civic and Wulfrun Halls.”

The Future High Street Fund works will also complement other transformational development schemes already underway or in the pipeline in the city, including the £150 million city centre Interchange and commercial district, thousands of new city centre homes at Brewers Yard and Canalside, and the Westside development.