Revised plans lodged for historic former department store

Corstorphine & Wright

The Eden Property Group has submitted amended plans to redevelop the former Beatties store and car park in Wolverhampton.

Planning was secured for 306 apartments and 73,000 sq ft of commercial space by the previous owner SSYS Beatties in March 2021. After significant demolition and strip-out work of the existing building, SSYS Beatties was placed into receivership leaving “the retained buildings exposed to the elements”.

First opened by James Beattie in 1877, Beatties has been vacant since House of Fraser left in 2020.

Corstorphine & Wright

After The Eden Group acquired the 147-year-old asset for £6.5m in February, it says the currently consented scheme is financially unviable and requires adjustment to be redeveloped.

The developer said in its design statement: “We recognise the strong local significance the Beattie’s building has and want to ensure a positive reintroduction to the streetscape soonest to avoid any decline and instead ensure the redevelopment can pact as a catalyst for wider regeneration in Wolverhampton”.

Drawings created by Corstorphine & Wright have been submitted to the City of Wolverhampton Council for approval through a Section 73 application.

Corstorphine & Wright said in the application that The Eden Group “is looking to move forward quickly to secure and protect the building and begin delivery of the redevelopment of this historic landmark”.