Express & Star comment: Hotel just what this city needs
For years Wolverhampton city centre has been in desperate need of a high quality hotel.
People of a certain age will undoubtedly recall numerous failed ventures and plans that have come and gone, with the lack of development certainly not down to a lack of effort on the city's part.
Some proposals have been quashed due to changing economic circumstances, while at times, ambitious schemes have simply never got off the drawing board.
Now there is genuine hope that Wolves may be about to step in and give the city what it has needed for so long.
Under the ownership of Fosun, Wolverhampton has already been presented with a high quality Premier League club with a team that plays some of the finest football ever seen at Molineux.
But the owners ambitions reach beyond the pitch, and the redevelopment of the stadium and its surrounding areas forms part of a masterplan to create something very special in the city.
It is understood that talks have taken place over the possibility of building a major hotel near the ground, with shops and restaurants also part of the discussions.
While it should be noted that these plans are believed to be in their early stages, they certainly reflect the club's ambition.
They also show the owners deep desire to create a legacy that will benefit the whole of Wolverhampton for years to come.
In the city council, they have a willing partner.
Indeed, if you throw the University of Wolverhampton into the mix, it is beyond doubt that the major players in the city are all pulling in the same direction.
In some respects, this is a crunch time for the city.
A series of impressive developments are already underway, including the fantastic Springfield Campus, the Metro extension and the railway station revamp.
But there is still a great deal of work to be done.
It is crucial that work starts on the Westside development later this year, while a new builder for the long delayed Civic halls revamp must be found as soon as possible following the Shaylor Group's collapse.
Other bold plans, such as the Brewers Yard scheme, still requires funding.
These are exciting times for the city. It is time it fulfilled its vast potential.
