City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet is set to approve the land deal that will enable developer ECF - a partnership between L&G, Homes England, and Muse - to begin works on phase one of Smithgate.
The first phase, known as Bicycle Works, will feature 331 new homes along with new retail opportunities and public spaces on vacant land off Peel Street, overlooking Market Square.
The land deal, to be discussed at the December 10 Cabinet meeting, will also unlock economic benefits, including jobs and skills opportunities and increased city centre footfall, to support and attract new businesses - generating additional business rates.
Once all phases of Smithgate are completed it will include up to 1,000 new homes on 12 acres of land linking School Street and Darlington Street to the area around Market Square, also creating 20,000 square feet of retail, leisure and commercial space.
Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The land deal will enable the first-phase delivery of this game-changing development that will contribute to the economic, social and environmental regeneration of our city centre.
“We have worked hard with our chosen developer to bring forward ambitious plans that will transform this key brownfield site and redefine urban living in our city.
“This comes on the back of a catalogue of regeneration schemes set to boost the city centre economy - the £61 million City Learning Quarter recently opened to students, the first part of our current £19million city centre improvement works programme has been completed, and the £150 million redevelopment of Canalside South is seeing the first homes coming out of the ground.”
