Metro Mayor Andy checks progress at Walsall town centre project

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, visited the development in Littleton Street West which received £6.9m from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Collective Investment Fund (CIF).

Work to build a 60-bedroom Travelodge hotel, drive-thru takeaway and three retail units on the 35,000 square feet site is being delivered by Worcestershire developers Cordwell Property Group.

With the steel frames for the buildings now up, completion of the development is expected in December.

The Mayor joined Walsall Council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Adrian Andrew to see how the work is progressing.

He said: “This site has been derelict for some time now and I’m really pleased the WMCA has been able to provide the financial support necessary to get it up and running.

“More than 100 jobs will be created as part of this scheme. But just as importantly, it’s another important piece in the regeneration jigsaw of Walsall town centre.

“I know the council have ambitious plans to improve not only the commercial offer in the centre, but also continue the residential development, particularly around the Waterfront which we hope the WMCA can continue to support.”

Mr Andrew said: “It’s great to see work going so well on one of the most important sites in the town centre. When complete, this will be a fantastic Christmas present for the town.

“There are still more sites in the town that we have plans to develop and, if we can continue to demonstrate results like we are with this scheme, we hope we can get the backing of the Mayor and WMCA for more support.”

Tom Wilcox, director of developers Cordwell Property Group, said: “This is a prime site on the edge of Walsall town centre and the support of the WMCA has been key in getting the development off the ground.

“It’s a really important project for us. We’re almost completely pre-let on the site and work is on schedule to be completed by the end of the year.”

The CIF is a £70m commercial development fund set up by the WMCA to stimulate jobs, opportunity and growth and provides short-term loans to private sector developers to enable them to get schemes off the ground.

It is aimed at unlocking a further £1bn in private sector investment over the next decade.

Gerald Gannaway, investment director for the CIF, said: “The CIF is proving a very effective way of kick-starting developments on brownfield sites by giving developers support to take on schemes.

“We are working with developers to make the £70m available to create jobs, help businesses and unlock sites which are standing derelict.”