Wolverhampton city centre to get £900k overhaul

The cash will be spent on improving the 'public realm' in the city's high street shopping area and surrounding roads.

Work is yet to start and will last around two to three years. Council chiefs say it will complement the multi-million pound overhaul of the Mander Centre which is currently taking place.

Bob Willis, urban traffic control manager at the council, said the authority would be focusing on 'maintenance related issues' and improvements in Dudley Street and the roads off Dudley Street.

Mr Willis said the work will cost around £900,000 and will take place over the next two to three years.

Exact details of the improvement work have yet to be finalised.

It is the latest boost for the regeneration of the city centre, which has seen work start on the £35 million revamp of the Mander Centre which is due to be completed in autumn next year.

Tim Johnson, strategic director for place at the council, said that the idea of a public realm was one developers always flagged up as being important.

"If they are investing millions of pounds they want a quality environment around it.

"Benson Elliott is investing millions into the Mander Centre so they want quality space around it. We are making an investment in the public realm to support investment that that private sector are making, but to also encourage investment.

"It has been a very direct feedback from investors as to where they choose to invest in particular places. It is a really important part of the mix. People focus on the projects and buildings, but the bits in between are critical. This is about a proper, integrated future plan for the city centre."

The latest improvement works come after it was announced in October that millions of pounds will be spent restoring buildings in Queen Street as part of the £2.3m Queen Street Gateway Enhancement Project.

The scheme will be delivered over the next four and a half years with work set to start this spring. The street contains some of the city's most important historic buildings dating back to the early 19th century and became the home of the headquarters for the Express & Star in the 1930s.

And last week the authority warned motorists to expect a year of disruption when work starts on extending the Metro.

The line is being extended along Piper's Row and Railway Drive under a £15m project which will link the existing Wolverhampton St George's stop with the railway station. Preparatory works are expected to start in May and last around a year and will see road closures put in place.