New scheme to transform gateway to Walsall town centre

Much of the building neighbouring the Hole In The Wall curtain and fabric shop in High Street, if not razed to the ground, was left structurally unsafe and needed to be demolished after a fire in 2004.

Now, more than a decade later, plans have been lodged to build a 4,380sq ft retail space in the hope of attracting a restaurant or coffee shop.

It would also form an additional shop window and showroom for the drapery business and nine flats would be built above the development.

Developers say it will compliment the redevelopment of the St Matthew's Quarter, where a £12m retail development is already planned.

Walsall's regeneration chief, Councillor Mohammad Nazir, has also welcomed the plans.

He said: "Anything that will redevelop the town centre is welcomed. Bringing residential development into the town centre is not a bad thing either."

The artist impression shows how the scheme will transform the site, which is overlooked by St Matthew's Church.

At the height of the blaze, more than 100 firefighters had been at the scene and the town centre was brought to a standstill.

Despite losing its entire stock in the £1 million blaze the business was able to reopen next door three months later.

A report, lodged with Walsall Council, said the new development would have a mixture of one and two bedroom flats, many of which will have a roof terrace.

It reads: "The appearance and character of High Street is currently marred by the hole at its top corner.

"The immediate environment to nos 10-12 requires a replacement building and particularly the view from Upper Rushall Street is disfigured by the absence of building.

"This has been mitigated since the fire by the clever use of a mural but at best, once the car park had been created, the original buildings were only showing their side elevations to an alley.

"The proposals repair the existing situation and provide a coherent frontage to the car park and Upper Rushall Street."

It added: "The recent consents for commercial development elsewhere in High Street and the removal of the Overstrand forsee a way forward now for the regeneration of High Street after years of hiatus."

The on-going regeneration of Walsall town centre also includes plans for St Matthews Quarter, which has seen B&M and Poundland sign up.

A new Primark and Co-op supermarket are also nearing completion as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Old Square Shopping Centre.

Cinemas and leisure developments are also underway at Walsall Waterfront and next to Tesco Extra.