Plans backed to transform department store into major mixed-use scheme

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

Property investment firm SSYS Beatties, which bought the building in February last year for £3m, will transform the space into 306 apartments.

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 green light have also been given to 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.