Empty Wolverhampton city centre shops set to be demolished
Bulldozers are poised to flatten a row of empty shops as a £1 billion vision for the transformation of Wolverhampton city centre forges ahead.
Former shops and businesses in Bell Street, by the Mander Centre car park entrance, are set to go as the council moves its Southside makeover forward.
It has not yet been revealed what will go in their place but regeneration chief Councillor John Reynolds, said: “It all fits into the £1 billion of investment that is either on site or in the pipeline for the city centre.”
It comes just weeks after the authority revealed a vision for the busy junction between Bell Street, Victoria Street and Skinner Street.
An artist’s impression showed the junction as being pedestrianised with its own water feature, trees and seating. Although the council has not confirmed whether its move to buy up the Bell Street premises is linked to that ambition.
The council bought land and property at one to five Bell Street last April to ‘strengthen its landownership’ whilst it demolished the former Netto site on the corner of Cleveland Street and Snow Hill.
Since Netto was demolished, the land has since become a car park and will eventually house the new market.
The units in Bell Street used to house a furniture shop, an amusement arcade and clothes shop.
In April last year, reference to the demolition of the shops was made as part of the almost £10 million regeneration plan.
The release said: “The council has recently bought land and property at 1 to 5 Bell Street to strengthen its landownership in the area with demolition of these properties also in the pipeline.”
Under the Southside plans Wolverhampton market – currently on the Westside site – will be shifted to Cleveland Street.
Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Southside is looking very different as we reshape this area of the city. The new market will be a real asset and we are developing our strategy for the immediate surrounding area.”
The move of the market is part of a £45m Westside development scheme.
Developers, architects and other stakeholders held displays in the Mander Centre on Friday and Saturday to find out people’s views on the scheme which could include a new cinema, hotel, bars, restaurants and green open space.
A temporary market has been in place since April 2016. “It all fits into the £1 billion of investment that is either on site or in the pipeline for the city centre.”
The news comes as earlier this month, businesses along Cleveland Street, Worcester Street and part of Victoria Street were sent letters by the council demanding they pay VAT and increased levels of rent.
The council has since said it will mitigate the VAT charge by a reduction in rent.
