Cinema deal struck for Wolverhampton's £55m Westside site

Developers Urban & Civic and the city council have now completed negotiations with the firm, which is expected to start work on the multi-screen cinema next Spring.

The cinema is seen as the focal point for the £55 million development, which spreads from the Penn Road Island to Salop Street, and includes a pedestrianised link route leading to a new public plaza in Victoria Street.

It comes as Wolverhampton was handed a £25m funding pot to boost economic growth as part of new government scheme.

'Coming together'

Wolverhampton Council leader Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “I have met with developers this week and it is great to see that everything has come together nicely.

"We are good to go, Urban & Civic are good to go, and within the next few weeks we will be ready to announce the cinema chain that will be such an important part of the development.

“We expect the work to start around March, April time.”

Initial work on the link route through the city is due to start in January, with an expected end date of March, 2021.

Meanwhile council bosses are considering how to spend the cash from the Government’s new town’s fund, which will see 100 areas receive a share of £3.6 billion.

'Investment'

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said he wants to see the cash used to boost the high street. “It is clear our high streets need significant investment and a rethink, which is why I have launched the Town Centre Task Force and why I am so grateful for this funding from Government,” he said.

Mr Brookfield said: “I welcome this money. It will make a really big difference to the city along with the investment that we already have going on.”

The funding was announced by Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick, who said: “Ensuring that prosperity and opportunities are available to everyone in this country, not just those in London.”