Walsall skyline undergoes further change as £11m Sports Hub takes shape
WALSALL’S skyline is undergoing further change as the town’s new £11m Business and Sports Hub begins to take shape.
The new facility, set to open next September, will serve as an annexe to Walsall College and the development is further changing the appearance of the Wisemore area of the town.
The front structure of the three-storey building has now taken shape as construction group Interserve presses ahead with the scheme.
The 39,000 sq ft development is located adjacent to Walsall College’s main £64m Wisemore Campus, on Littleton Street West. It also sits next to another multi-million pound development which is currently under construction; as work continues on the new pharmacy headquarters for Jhoots Pharmacy Group.
The new developments form part of Walsall Council’s long-term £400m Gigaport vision, which aims to create thousands of jobs along the ring road corridor through sports provision, business and office expansions.
Deb Rajania, Walsall College’s Director of Operations & Resources, said: “After so much hard work behind the scenes it is fantastic to finally see the Walsall Business and Sports Hub rising from the ground and it is beginning to take shape very quickly now.
“This is such an exciting time for Walsall College and the town in general and this new Hub will go a long way to helping create a thriving and active economy for all.”
Cllr Mohammad Nazir, regeneration leader for Walsall Council, said: “The Hub is going to be a unique venue which will help start-up businesses and enterprise projects to thrive and has the potential to create scores of jobs within the Gigaport development. It’s fascinating to see this multi-million pound investment take shape in the heart of Walsall.”
Interserve Project Manager, Kevin Miners, added: “We are excited to be leading on this important project in the wider transformation of Walsall and everything remains on schedule for a grand opening in September 2015.”
Once completed, the new Hub will house a business incubation centre for start-up businesses, sports hall with badminton courts to Sport England standards, dance and fitness studios, sports training and injury clinic as well as a fine dining restaurant.
