£8.1m Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence set to open in Bilston

An £8.1m electric vehicle training centre is to be built at the City of Wolverhampton College’s Bilston campus.

Thousands of students will learn how to make electric cars at the Advanced Engineering and Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence which is set to create hundreds of jobs.

Deputy leader of Wolverhampton council Stephen Simkins said: “This is another important step towards our vision.

“It will also offer opportunities to access a new high-end workforce within our city – especially in Bilston.”

The plans are part of the council’s City Learning Quarter masterplan and construction is expected to begin this summer.

The masterplan was launched following £7.7m of funding received from the West Midlands Combined Authority with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership providing the rest of the funds.

Plans for the two-storey Advanced Engineering and Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence had to be revised before they were approved.

Changes included adjustments to car parking provision, gates, fencing and landscaping.