Storage plan for Wolverhampton landmark

Storage World (Wolverhampton) Ltd to build a self-storage facility with ground floor retail and leisure units under a scheme which would create three full-time and three part-time jobs.

And planning permission for the development has now been granted by Wolverhampton council.

Planning documents submitted to the authority say that the firm is a new local company set up to provide long and short term self-storage.

The owners currently own and manage Hillcrest Business Park in Dudley which includes a large self-storage business similar to that proposed at the Attwood Building.

"The company has identified a gap in the market in Wolverhampton, particularly close to the city centre. The Attwood Building at Raglan Street lends itself to conversion to storage and would provide Storage World with a site that meets their requirements," plans say.

The site would be open between 6am and 8pm and would see separate units for retail or leisure uses fronting Raglan Street. The units will be designed to be flexible so they can be merged to create between two and seven units.

The documents add: "The proposal provides a viable and sympathetic use for the Attwood Building which will ensure this locally listed building and landmark becomes occupied to safeguard the building's long term future.

The proposal will not only protect and enhance the Attwood Building as a heritage asset, but also the setting of the adjacent Chapel Ash Conservation Area.

"Currently the vacant building detracts from the character and appearance of the area and due to a lack of activity and atmosphere along Raglan Street and St Mark's Road."

The building, on the corner of Raglan Street and St Mark's Road in Chapel Ash has been derelict for over a decade. In January it was revealed that the building had been bought by a local firm after being on the market for 12 months.