The Urban Garden scheme is a key component of the transformative Bilston Health & Regeneration Programme (HaRP), supported by Government funding.

The programme aims to integrate health, leisure and community infrastructure within Bilston town centre enhancing the quality of the public realm and boosting sustainable active travel opportunities. 

The Urban Garden is a public open space at Stafford Street connecting to Church Street with two distinct sections.  The first, near Church Street, is an open paved square with a large tree.  The second, near Stafford Street, has a raised oval shaped area of grassland, pedestrian paths, landscaped beds, shrubs and seating areas.

The Urban Garden proposals focus on improving the quality, safety and usability of this public open space, strengthening connections between the High Street, the transport interchange and the markets. 

Feedback from public consultation has informed the plans, which include resurfacing, landscape enhancements, tree and shrub planting and improvements to street furniture, while retaining the existing layout and movement patterns.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: “Major investment is being made in Bilston with a number of projects set to transform the town centre.

“The opinions of residents, businesses and visitors have helped shape these proposals for the Urban Garden and the planning submission is a major step towards delivering this scheme.”

The Bilston Urban Garden improvement scheme builds on the recent completion of the new Bilston outdoor market by the council as part of ongoing investment in the town that also includes Black Country Route public realm improvements, High Street Link scheme, construction of a new Health & Wellbeing Facility next to the leisure centre, and £20million Pride in Place programme, which the council is working closely with local residents on to spend on projects to boost the town – such as the return of Bilston Carnival earlier this month.