Wolverhampton wins £100k in Portas Pilot

Wolverhampton today became one of 12 areas across the country to win £100,000 of investment and support from retail guru Mary Portas – but all other Black Country towns lost out.

The city fought off stiff competition as a total of 370 other locations clamoured for a slice of the £1.2 million Portas Pilot funding pot.

Wolverhampton was chosen over local rivals Dudley, West Bromwich, Bearwood and Walsall who were left bitterly disappointed.

City bosses also revealed today they had secured other funding sources and the final investment would be worth around £300,000.

It is now hoped Ms Portas, who fronts television shows Mary Queen of Frocks and Mary Portas: Secret Shopper, will visit Wolverhampton in the near future. She will liaise with council and retail bosses on numerous initiatives to boost trade and revamp the high street.

Ideas include modern-day street criers and a Dragons' Den-style competition for entrepreneurs. There are currently 154 empty shops in Wolverhampton.

Councillor Peter Bilston, economic regeneration boss, said: "Winning this bid just goes to show what we can achieve when business, the public and private sectors work together for the interests of Wolverhampton."

The winning bid was put together by city centre company WV One.

Operations director Kim Gilmour said: "The whole city's been behind this bid with 43 letters of support from property owners, major retailers, business support organisations, MPs and many others."

A second batch of 12 pilots will be announced in July.