The Urban Garden scheme forms part of the transformative Bilston Health & Regeneration Programme (HaRP) supported by Government funding.

The programme aims to integrate health, leisure and community infrastructure in 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 will enhance the appearance, quality, safety, and usability of this public open space while retaining its familiar layout and function. It will strengthen connections between the High Street, the transport interchange and the markets.

The planning application was submitted following public consultation, with resident and business communities helping to shape the final design which includes improved paving, refreshed tree and shrub planting and upgrades to seating and street furniture to create a more welcoming environment.

The process will now begin to appoint a contractor by early next year to carry out the works.

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 the final design for the Urban Garden and the planning approval means we can now start moving towards the business end of delivering these improvements.”

The Bilston Urban Garden improvement scheme builds on the recent opening of the new Bilston outdoor market by the council as part of ongoing investment in the town. That investment 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 £20 million 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 in July.