Wolverhampton Business Week: Vision of a traffic-free Lichfield Street

The council and its development partners are also keen to build the city's so-called 'visitor economy', bringing in more of the local people who currently travel away for their entertainment and nights out.

As a result it is looking at ways of clearing traffic out of of some of the city centre's main thoroughfares and extending the pedestrianised areas.

Tied in with the upcoming work on the Westside Leisure Quarter, with its multiplex cinema and restaurants, the council is looking at ways to encourage people to wander around the centre of the city, visiting the shops and cafes. But the car isn't being left out – the Westside scheme already includes a plan for a new multi-storey car park.

As the city marks Wolverhampton Business Week, the council's ambitious plans for regeneration have been under discussion.

Developers Urban & Civic are hoping to start work on the Westside early in the new year. Property director Philip Leech said: "We want to bring more people into the city. We want to extend the leisure economy and the amount of time people spend in the city, so they don't just come in and spend at the shops but also see a film, eat out in a restaurant."

At the week's keynote Business Breakfast event, Wolverhampton council's managing director, Keith Ireland, unveiled an 'aspirational' image of Lichfield Street "pedestrianised, without cars". Although no concrete plans have so far been drawn up, Mr Ireland said: "I am sure we will try that."

Councillor John Reynolds, the city's economy chief, added: “High quality developments like Westside need to be connected to the wider city offer with excellent public spaces.

“That’s why we’re investing millions to create vibrant, world-class spaces to complement our city’s stunning architecture.

“Lichfield Street is home to our fantastic city art gallery and other historic buildings. It is just one area we are looking at improving for visitors to our city centre as part of the wider Connected Places strategy.”

Plans have already been unveiled that would see the pedestrianisation of the city centre extended to connect Victoria Street, Skinner Street, Salop Street and School Street to Westside.

Lichfield Street would be part of phase two, taking in the top of Victoria Street, through Queen Square and along Lichfield Street to the top of Princess Street.

While new car parking is part of projects like Westside, the council is hoping that Wolverhampton's new railway station will encourage more 'walking' visitors. Work is due to start in the new year on the station, which will form part of the £125m Interchange linking rail, bus and Metro traffic on one site.

At the same time the city is seeing plans drawn up for a £50 million Learning Quarter and the city's historic market is being moved to a new site across the road from the Wulfrun shopping centre. Next month will see the opening of the new four-floor Debenhams department store as part of the £35m revamp of the Mander shopping centre.

Earlier this year the council backed a masterplan that will improve links for both pedestrians and cyclists in and around the city centre. Key proposals included a new ring road crossing linking Molineux to the city centre and a pedestrianised route running from Lichfield Street to the Westside development around Market Square.

There are also plans being drawn up to create a walking and cycling route between the University of Wolverhampton’s new £100m Springfield campus, the transport interchange and the city centre.

And the council is also looking at how to improve links over the ring road to homes being built at the former Royal Hospital site. The ‘Connected Places Strategy’ will act as a future blueprint for all public realm works across the city whether delivered by the council or by developers.

At the time Councillor John Reynolds said: “We need this to encourage and attract people into the city and increase private sector investment. We’re really pleased with all the discussions we’ve had so far with the like of House of Fraser, Benson Elliot and other local businesses about the plans.

“Of course with all these plans we’ll be looking very carefully at the affect on public transport

The proposals approved early this year said the improved links with Molineux, the Westside development and Springfield campus could get off the ground within three years, while the link with The Royal Hospital could take six years.

Works around Molineux could also include the creation of a new “event space” on St Peters’ car park, in Wulfruna Street, and improvements to the subway.