Plans are being finalised by the council to relocate a strategic works compound to enable the first phase of Smithgate – Wolverhampton’s largest city centre regeneration scheme – to get underway.
The Peel Street/Market Square compound is currently being used by the contractor delivering the £19 million city centre improvement scheme in Darlington Street, Queen Square and Lichfield Street.
In the coming weeks the compound will move to the vacant Bell Street site until the city centre improvement works are completed in 2027.
This switch will pave the way for developer, ECF, to begin enabling works by the turn of the year on the Bicycle Works phase of Smithgate, which will feature 331 new homes along with new retail opportunities and public spaces overlooking Market Square.
Once all phases of Smithgate are completed, it will cover 12 acres of land linking School Street and Darlington Street to the area around Market Square. It will include up to 1,000 homes and 20,000 square feet of retail, leisure and commercial space.
As part of the city centre masterplan, the Bell Street site will continue to be promoted as a future development opportunity beyond 2027.
Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “Major regeneration is taking place and the relocation of this works compound to make way for the Smithgate scheme will mark a notable shift in gear for the delivery of our city centre vision.
“We have worked hard with our chosen developer to bring forward ambitious plans that will regenerate this key brownfield site and redefine urban living in our city.
“We can look forward to activity starting on site for the delivery of hundreds of new homes for local people – creating jobs, reshaping our city centre and boosting businesses.
“This comes on the back of a catalogue of regeneration schemes set to boost the city centre economy - the £61 million City Learning Quarter will open to students next month, the ongoing city centre improvement works are progressing, and the £150 million redevelopment of Canalside South is seeing the first homes coming out of the ground.”
