Regeneration of historic Wolverhampton landmark gets the go-ahead
Amended plans for the redevelopment of Wolverhampton’s iconic former Beatties store have been approved by the city’s council.
The Eden Property Group lodged revised plans last month to regenerate the vacant store and car park after it acquired the 147-year-old asset for £6.5m in February.
Planning was secured for 306 apartments and 73,000 sq ft of commercial space by the previous owner SSYS Beatties in March 2021, but 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”.
Corstorphine & Wright
New plans were developed by The Eden Property Group and Corstorphine & Wright, as the previously consented scheme was financially unviable and required adjustment to be redeveloped.
A ground-floor extension to the department store which was added in the 1990s will be removed in order to open up a concave recess at the front of the building. The space will be used as a pavement cafe area and entrance to a restored arcade.
First opened by James Beattie in 1877, Beatties has been vacant since House of Fraser left in 2020.
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 were 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”.
