Work begins on fire-damaged high street site in Walsall
Work is underway to transform a fire-ravaged Walsall town centre site into flats and a restaurant.
The building neighbouring the Hole in the Wall curtain and fabrics shop in High Street was largely destroyed and had to be demolished after the blaze in 2004.
The scheme promises to dramatically change the look to a gateway of the town.
Plans for a combination of commercial space and nine apartments were given the nod by Walsall Council earlier this year.
It is hoped a restaurant or coffee shop will set up in the building.
The Hole in the Wall shop continues to trade next door to the site.
Walsall's regeneration chief and deputy council leader Councillor Adrian Andrew has welcomed the news that work has now started and hailed it as a boost for the town.
He said: "It's great news. It's another boost for Walsall.
"It's a fantastic development at a gateway site to the town centre.
"It's going to be a modern, iconic building to compliment some of the more historic buildings around there."
It will also complement the redevelopment of St Matthew's Quarter, where a £12m shopping centre is is planned.
Retailers B&M and Poundland have both signed up to the development.
It recently emerged that work on the scheme had been delayed and was not expected to start until next year.
At the height of the blaze more than a decade ago, more than 100 firefighters had been at the scene and the town centre was brought to a standstill.
The ongoing regeneration of Walsall town centre has also included the opening of a new Primark in August and a cinema and leisure development is under way at Walsall Waterfront.
It was recently announced that American food giant TGI Fridays was set to open a restaurant as part of the complex, which will include a Chiquito, Hungry Horse, Pizza Express and Bella Italia.
