Have your say: Mixed response to Wolverhampton city centre regeneration plans

The plans aim to breathe life into area with a canal quarter, a cinema, 2,000 new homes and more shops.

Details for the scheme went on display at the Wulfrun Shopping Centre on Friday and Saturday.

Council bosses and MPs have said they will do all they can to make the 12-year project a reality.

Those who attended the consultation event, which gave people a chance to see a map detailing the plans and speak to council staff, believe that if it can be followed through properly, the city should benefit.

Kazeem Salami, aged 21, from Deansgate, said: "This is a very good idea, I am currently studying in the city and I think something like this will attract more students and potentially people from all over the world.

"Ultimately more people means more jobs.

"I work locally and I think that something like this would develop the city and make it more financially stable for the future."

Some believed that while the plans show great ambition, the council needed to listen to constituents to avoid any potential pitfalls.

Jim Barrow, 64, from Tettenhall, said: "It is important that the council are asking what people's views on such a potentially important project.

"The city centre does need a new lease of life if we are going to compete as a city and with proper joined up thinking accompanying the application of this plan that could be a possibility.

"They need to pay attention to the little details that could make or break the whole thing.

"New shops are needed but there are already plenty of empty ones in town and parking is always an issue.

"It is a good plan but I hope this consultation is took on board and the opinions of the people who use the city centre are taken into account, because they know what people actually need."

Others were despondent after seeing previous plans for the centre fail to lift off.

Martin Dinger, 59, from Wednesfield, said: "We have seen this sort of thing proposed a couple of times over the last 20 years.

"It never comes off because the investment isn't there.

"People need a reason to come to the city and are being turned away by having to pay for parking and seeing empty shops.

"How can we regenerate our city if we aren't utilising what we already have to its full potential."