Eyesore site to go in £120m transport plan in Wolverhampton
Council chiefs have revealed work will start early this summer to demolish an eyesore building as part of a £120 million transport plan.
The former Mill Street Garage sits on land next to the old Sack Works off Corn Hill in Wolverhampton – beside the railway line and facing the canal.
It will be demolished as part of the city’s Interchange project. Once the derelict garage is razed bosses said it will enable the ‘removal of the dilapidated roof structure on the Sack Works and the stabilising of its walls and gables for its future development’.
They are expected to take around a month and will pave the way for the whole Sack Works site to be marketed for commercial use.
Ion Development is leading on the works on behalf of the Interchange Partnership.
Head of city development at Wolverhampton council, Paul Lakin, said: “This is another important step forward for the wider Interchange project.
“The old Sack Works site sits in a prominent location within the Interchange area and this is the start of bringing it back to life after decades of lying empty.
“It presents an excellent commercial opportunity and we will ensure any development is also sensitive to the history of the building and the surrounding area.”
Steve Parry, managing director, Ion Development, said: “The demolition of the former Mill Street Garage is the pre-curser to a development which will become mixed use leisure and office.
“The old Sack Works site is in a perfect setting, next to the canal, to offer an excellent environment for both leisure and business use.”
The works form part of the Interchange masterplan and follows the announcement in March of the i9 development – designed by Glenn Howells Architects.
The modern office development is to be built on Railway Drive, and emerged as a scheme following the success of the award-winning i10 building opposite.
It is hoped i9 will become a national or regional headquarters for a major business.
Other land earmarked for development beside the railway and canal as part of the Interchange project includes the Banana Yard and Boat Yard at Broad Street Wharf.
The railway station itself is currently being revamped and will see an enhanced Birmingham New Street-style ticket office, larger passenger concourse, ample ticket barriers, improved retail facilities, increased taxi rank provision and a more efficient passenger drop off/pick up arrangement.
