A £174 million overhaul of Wolverhampton’s bus and train stations has taken a major step forward after planning chiefs unanimously backed the next stage of the transformation.

The city council’s planning committee has awarded delegated approval to phase one of the Interchange project.

This means the demolition of the bus station will almost certainly take place in October.

Under phase one, which has been brought forward with £20m worth of Government funding, the bus station will be demolished and rebuilt along with Pipers Row House, which currently is home to a Spar shop, an accountancy firm and a recruitment company.

A two-storey building in its place will contain 16,000 sq ft of floor space including a cafe, restaurant, travel shop, retail outlets and office space.

The new bus station featuring 19 stands will be designed so that passengers will not have to cross any traffic lanes, while the travel shop with give live information on bus, train and Metro services.

The planning committee ruled the head of regeneration Steve Boyes can give phase one his final approval behind closed doors, allowing an October start date for the work.