Will Wolverhampton's box space go ahead? Questions as scheme is omitted from latest regeneration plan

The area, which was to have provided space for live entertainment and food-and-drink vendors on the site of the city's former retail market off Salop Street, is absent from the latest plans to redevelop the west side of the city.

A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council stressed that this did not mean the scheme had been dropped.

The long-awaited box space was due to have opened this year on a plot of land between Cleveland Street and Bell Street, which had been cleared by the council.

However, in May this year the Express & Star revealed that the council was now looking at alternative sites for the scheme - and in July council leader Councillor Stephen Simkins said that the former market place, between Salop Street and Peel Street was now the preferred location.

However, the latest plans - if approved - will see the boarded off area, which covers the site of the former indoor market, redeveloped as flats. An artist’s impression shows a light landscaping scheme on the square between the development site and the existing flats.

The ‘masterplan’ covers 11 acres across the west of the city, from the Birch Street car park in the north, to the School Street car park in the south.

The consortium is seeking full planning permission to build 331 flats in three six-storey blocks, along with 2,626 sq ft of mixed commercial space on the ground floor fronting the area which previously housed the open-air market.

Wolverhampton Council said work could begin next year if the scheme is approved.

Outline planning permission is also being sought for a wider ‘masterplan’ to build 1,070 homes and 20,000 sq ft of commercial space across 11 acres of land in the west of the city, taking in the Birch Street car park in the north, and the School Street car park in the south.

The plans have been submitted by Wolverhampton Council and the ECF consortium, which also includes developer Muse, financial giant Legal & General, and Homes England.

A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council said a report published in July made it clear that the food and events space would be subject to a separate cabinet report at a later date, which is why it was not detailed in this planning application. 

He said: “Market Square continues to be explored as the location for a long-term food and events space offer as part of the City Centre West masterplan, subject to a final business case, approval by the council’s cabinet and planning permission.

“As with any significant investment, it is important that we explore all options to ensure we get the best outcome for our city.”

He said the council was working closely with other members of the consortium on the potential opportunity, that would support wider, ambitious plans to create a destination of choice as part of the City Centre West scheme.

The spokesman said the council would now reassess options for the Bell Street site, which were originally earmarked for the box space site. It has been reported that the council spent £1.3 million preparing the site.

Councillor Paul Singh accused the council of wasting the money.

“They have spent all that money on that site for something that is not now going to happen there,” he said.

However, the council spokesman said: “The works carried out to date to clear the derelict shops on Cleveland Street and the purchase of the Neville Garratt Centre mean the site will be ready for development - and it has already attracted interest despite not being marketed.”

The City Centre West scheme is the latest in a long line of attempts to rejuvenate the western side of the city.

In 2005, plans for the £300 million Summer Row retail development were unveiled, which would have seen the construction of a 600,000 sq ft shopping complex anchored by Debenhams and Marks & Spencer as well as restaurants and a bowling alley.

Other major retailers including H&M, Jane Norman, Warehouse and Monsoon had all confirmed an interest in moving in.

However, a funding deal for half the cash with a consortium of three Northern Irish businessmen collapsed in December 2008 amid the financial crash, and the scheme was finally abandoned in 2011. 

The £50 million Westside scheme, launched at the Houses of Parliament in 2016, was set to bring a cinema, restaurants, 10-pin bowling, mini golf, and hotel to a 6.4-acre plot in the city centre on the west of the city.

But a combination of the coronavirus, and cinema chains 'reining in new operations' led to the project being scaled down two years ago. The following February the council unveiled its plans for a £6 million box space off Cleveland Street and Bell Street, and demolished seven shop units to make way for it.

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