This is the vision for Wolverhampton’s transport system of the future - the £200 million development which council bosses say will revolutionise travelling in the city for generations to come.
The Express & Star revealed how bustling bars and cafes have been included in the new plans to bring the canalside to life as part of the transformation.
A waterside area is set to be created under the ambitious plans that are modelled on Birmingham’s popular Brindleyplace.
A stretch of the Birmingham canal next to the city’s train station will form a key part of plans to create the new transport interchange in the city.
A grand glass-fronted railway station, a four-star hotel and more than 200 new homes will be created alongside the canal basin.
Developers had hoped to submit their plans to regeneration chiefs in September.
But they are now set to launch a huge public campaign before submitting them in the New Year after bosses went back to the drawing board to design the new-look proposals.
Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune Developments which is behind the plans, said: “We have amended the design of the core elements of the scheme including the new rail and bus stations, commercial offices, residential accommodation, public spaces and canalside cultural quarter to complement schemes coming forward for adjoining sites.
“More emphasis has been placed on the canal in the redesign to ensure that the city benefits from an active canalside leisure quarter.”
A major consultation campaign will kick off in the New Year, including a website, exhibitions and meetings, in a bid to get members of the public behind the plans.
Wolverhampton regeneration chief Steve Boyes said: “We are delighted to be in a position to plan consultations on this scheme which will transform a key part of the city centre and bring millions of pounds of investment to the area.”
The interchange project will create around 3,000 jobs. The interchange will incorporate the expansion of the Midland Metro, with tramlines extended throughout the city to run along Lichfield Street and into the complex.
4 Comments
Looking at the artists impression I can’t make out the Fellows Morton Clayton Warehouse and the British Waterways basin where boaters go for facilities. This is a wonderful “hidden” treasure where there is evidence of a time gone by, showing workings areas and stable block. Am I mistaken or is there a high rise building in its place?
How are we expected to see the new development from such a small picture? Even enlarging it on a computer shows almost no detail whatsoever! Place a decent sized photo on this page or another, so we can actually see the development properly.
Mrs W.
I think you are mistaken. Broad St. bridge isn’t visible on the model. It is just beyond the bottom left hand corner, so the warehouse and basin are off the picture too.
Keith is referring to the small basin by the top lock with is indeed outside the picture.
The BW basin shows bottom left and the historic bridge has gone as have various other wonderful buildings such as the old stables!
This needs urgent action before this last remaining part of canal heritage in Wolverhampton goes the same way as so many other bits have in the past few years. Regeneration is a great idea but not if it destroys this important site in the process.