Wolverhampton railway station revamp on the way

A planning application has been submitted by developers Neptune and the city council that will see capacity at the car park doubled, to more than 900 spaces, and the creation of a new entrance off Mill Street.

It will change the face of the ugly multi-storey that greets visitors to the city as they walk out of the station.

And it will be followed by plans for a new railway station early in the new year.

Neptune and the council is currently working with transport authority Centro, Network Rail, Virgin Trains and the Canal & River Trust to finalise plans for the railway station and to extend the Metro tram line to link up with it.

These plans are due to be revealed in the new year.

It is understood work on the car park extension and refurbishment is expected to start in April, and work on the railway station itself is due in 2016, followed by the Metro extension. The whole project will be completed by the end of 2017, if things go according to plan.

The car park planning application will see a new 520 space car park, cycle and motorcycle park and 18 berth taxi rank built as an extension to the existing multi- storey and the creation of the new Mill Street entrance.

The existing frontage on Railway Drive will be improved as an temporary measure with the current red steelwork repainted and the existing entrance and exit will be closed up. The developers and the council are hoping to attract a new hotel that would be built on the land between Railway Drive and the car park which would effectively wrap-around the existing frontage, creating a completely new view and a modern-looking gateway to the new railway station.

Neptune Developments' managing director, Steve Parry, said: "This is an important element within the overall Interchange scheme and the vision for a modern state-of-the-art transport hub in Wolverhampton City Centre. The facilities for both car drivers and cyclists are being extended and improved with a high quality design in keeping with the aspirations that we have set for the overall project."

Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's regeneration chief, added: "The Interchange is a main gateway to the city centre and is a strategic regeneration priority for the council. A bigger, new-look car park will be the next stage in creating a truly integrated transport hub."

The new facility has been designed by ASL architects. Lead architect Richard Cronin said: "This is the place where many people arrive in Wolverhampton and we to need create the best possible first impression. We have looked at similar projects elsewhere in the UK and internationally to achieve the highest design standards and create the best possible passenger environment in terms of quality, safety and accessibility."