Plans to transform landmark former department store revealed

Plans to transform the former Beatties department store in Wolverhampton city centre into a major mixed-use scheme have been submitted.

Property investment firm SSYS Beatties, which bought the building in February last year for £3m, has revealed plans for 306 apartments on the site.

Part of the building will be demolished, but some 73,000 sq ft of retail space across seven units on the site will be retained. The plans also include a cafe and just over 17,000 sq ft of office space.

An adjacent car park will be added to with three new storeys and green walls and a central rooftop courtyard garden also form part of the planning application.

The main building was opened as a shop by James Beattie in 1877.