Historic Wolverhampton pub to become university office

The University of Wolverhampton will turn the former Wolves match day pub into a staff office building and printing facility.

The Feathers in Molineux Street was bought by the university last year.

Bosses originally vowed to revamp the 1940s building as a student facility, but now plans have been submitted to turn it into an office complex featuring a printing service.

The proposals, which have been submitted to Wolverhampton City Council's planning department, outline a complete overhaul of the ground floor.

The former bar area will contain new print facilities and an office, with a large waiting area at the front of the property.

Kitchen facilities will be revamped, while the toilets will be updated to include disabled facilities.

Under the plans the basement will be converted into a storage room. At present the university has no plans to utilise the first floor.

All external woodwork will be repainted to match the former pub's black and white colour scheme, according to the plans.

A design and access statement accompanying the application says the proposed changes would fit in with local surroundings and meets all planning guidance criteria.

It concludes: "For these reasons we believe that planning permission should be granted."

Council planning chiefs will decide on the application in the coming weeks.

University spokesman James Allen said: "We're keen to retain the character of the building and keep it in context with its surroundings.

"We're always looking to improve our facilities for our students and staff and this forms part of that strategy."

The pub was a popular haunt for Wolves fans until it closed down early last year.

It is one of three pubs to have vanished from the landscape around Molineux, meaning there are now no pubs in the immediate vicinity of the stadium.

The Wanderer was demolished in January and will be replaced with a car park for Wolves staff and supporters.

In Waterloo Road Lounge 107 - formerly The Goal Post - has also shut down. Plans were submitted by ASDA to turn the site into a petrol station, but the proposal was thrown out last month.

University vice-chancellor, Prof Geoff Layer said at the time of the university taking over the building: "The Feathers is in a strategic position for the university, as it is close to many of our student facilities on City Campus.

"It is near the School of Creative Arts and Design and our health and wellbeing teaching facilities, as well as the site of our new £18 million business school building.

"This will allow us to be more innovative with our multi-million pound campus developments."