Work ready for new Aldi near Wolverhampton's old Low Level Station
Aldi said work on its Wolverhampton superstore will begin before the end of 2018 – more than a year after plans were given unanimous approval.
The new store will transform a large piece of derelict land near the city’s Low Level Station, opposite the Royal Mail Depot in Sun Street, as well as bringing 40 new jobs to the city.
A spokesman for Aldi said: “We will begin construction of our new Wolverhampton store at Sun Street towards the end of the year and plan to open in early 2019.
“This will create up to 40 jobs and enable local people.”
The site is adjacent to the Royal Mail depot and flats in Broad Gauge Way and was always intended to form part of a major £35m regeneration plan taking in the Premier Inn, Bluebrick pub and Grand Station conference centre. When these plans were approved in 2006 the site was initially earmarked for a massive car showroom, but that part of the scheme never materialised and the land remained derelict.
Aldi’s spokesman added: “We presented this proposal for a new Wolverhampton store due to the massive retail potential of the site. It will bring a welcome improvement to a neglected and run-down urban site.”
Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, who represents the Heath Town ward, said residents were concerned about traffic problems on Wednesfield Road.
He added: “I think it’s just a matter of monitoring the situation. I hope the 40 jobs go to local people in the community because it’s much needed.”
The store will have 115 parking bays. It will form part of the city’s ‘Canalside Quarter’ that also includes the former Springfield Brewery, which is being revamped as a University of Wolverhampton campus. Wolverhampton Council planners gave Aldi unanimous approval in August last year.
By Joe Sweeney
Local democracy reporter
