Councillors green light multi-million Mander Centre facelift

PLANNING chiefs in Wolverhampton have given the green light for the £30m transformation of the city’s Mander Centre.

The shopping centre will undergo a major refurbishment aimed at enhancing the retail offer and increasing footfall to the city centre.
 
The scheme by Mander Investments Ltd will see the demolition of the south western corner of the centre fronting Bell Street and replaced by a new 8,360sq metre department store which will house Debenhams.
 
Further work will see a number of smaller units being replaced by larger ones, the construction of a new retail kiosk fronting Woolpack Alley and the refurbishment of the existing mall.
 
Cllr Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, said: “This is a hugely significant and extremely exciting development for our city centre.
 
“The transformation of the Mander Centre will provide a huge boost to Wolverhampton’s retail offer and greatly support efforts to attract major national stores to the city.
 
“Not only will it attract extra footfall to a greatly enhanced centre, it will also help increase trade for businesses in the surrounding area.”

He said the local authority was committed to regenerating the city centre with the aim of increasing prosperity and creating new job opportunities.