Boost for Wolverhampton landmark in concert hall plan

Plans to transform the Victorian Grand Post House in Wolverhampton city centre took a step closer after the council granted the venue its licences. These include permission to screen films, host boxing and wrestling matches and sell alcohol from 10am until 5.30am.

Grand Post Host Limited, the applicant behind the plans, is yet to have the ambitious scheme approved by the council but, at a meeting of the licensing sub-committee, it outlined its vision for the 40,000 sq-ft site.

The whole development would encompass two buildings, starting with the Victorian post office - right next to the more-modern post office which closed last year in Lichfield Street - taking in the white curved property running along Lichfield Street and Princess Street, right round to the stage door of the Grand Theatre in Berry Street.

Part of the plans include a national chain restaurant and shared offices for local entrepreneurs to potentially start up business.

Should planning permission be approved, it is hoped the development would be completed as early as summer 2015.

Rav Rayet, project director for Grand Post House said: "This is an exciting concept which is on one of the main routes to the train station and bus station and is on a gateway to the city.

"Part of this building is derelict and it is a shame because it is beautiful building.

"The idea is for a coffee house to be on two floors in the circular building on the corner of Lichfield Street and Princess Street.

"We hope that this will independently run and attract commuters and members of the public in the city.

"The idea of the office space is for people to rent space and number of businesses to share that.

"They may be separate business but it will be a hub and they can share ideas. It is something that is seen in London."

The company said it hopes the development will keep graduates from the university in the city.

Mr Rayet added: "I know from personal experience that once I graduated I went to London. We want to retain graduates in Wolverhampton and encourage young entrepreneurs. There are a lot of talented people leaving the city."

Plans were shown to the committee which showed the event space could be used for a number of functions such as concerts, wedding receptions and fashion shows.

The first floor of the space could hold as many as 1,000 people with the basement holding 650.

Chair of the committee Councillor Alan Bolshaw, questioned if the business could deliver the project quickly.

Mr Rayet added: "We need several streams of revenue for this development to be a success. We have to have this to be commercially sound. My plan is to open it all in one go, not phase-by-phase. We hope to open it by 2015."

The committee unanimously granted the site the licences.