£19m revamp to bring Wolverhampton city centre to life
Work is set to begin on a £19m project to revamp Wolverhampton city centre, marking the third and final phase of the council’s regeneration programme.
The completed scheme will offer upgrades to streets, public event spaces, additional trees, greenery and seating and better access for buses, cyclists and taxis on Lichfield Street, Queen Square and Darlington Street.
Funding for the scheme includes £13.5m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund, £3m from the Towns Fund and £2.6m from the Active Travel Fund.
Work will be carried out in stages by contractor Taylor Woodrow, with the entire scheme expected to take two and a half years.
Other phases of the programme include the regeneration of The Halls, which has hosted regular events in the newly created spaces.
New investments like Superbowl UK, have been drawn to the area, with a Superbowl venue set to open at the Mander Centre units off Victoria Street in the coming months.
The council said it’s focused on boosting foot traffic in the city centre, generating economic activity and attracting fresh investment.
Cllr Chris Burden, the council’s Cabinet Member for city development, jobs and skills, said: “We want people to enjoy our city centre from the moment they arrive, and this is the next step in our transformation plans that are delivering positive outcomes for businesses, residents and visitors. Creating enhanced walking, cycling and dwell space, as well as infrastructure for events and attractions, and a better environment for city centre living is helping to boost the local economy.
“The works will also complement other transformational development schemes already underway or in the pipeline in the city centre, including the £150m Interchange and commercial district, and thousands of new homes coming at City Centre West and Canalside – all helping to create hundreds of new jobs and further investment opportunities.”
