Huge plan for Wolverhampton city centre revealed

The Mander and Wulfrun Centres will be offered space to expand and a new public square built in Wolverhampton under ambitious plans revealed today.

Council chiefs are hoping to resurrect the city centre's fortunes following the failed £300 million Summer Row shopping centre development.

Today they ruled out creating a brand new shopping centre, instead focusing on family leisure, smaller retail sites, offices and "consolidating" what is already there.

Rather than commission specific schemes, such as the now abandoned 60,000 sq ft Summer Row dream, the council is asking developers what they want to build.

Around 50 potential investors descended on Molineux for a private meeting yesterday. Charles Green, interim director for education and enterprise at Wolverhampton City Council, revealed the Mander and Wulfrun Centres would be given the space to expand if their owners want to.

The council also wants to buy up shops in Victoria Street and Cleveland Street, many of which are already empty because of the eight-year wait for Summer Row.

It plans to create a square, similar to Queen Square, and will offer the Mander Centre a new entrance. New open spaces are also proposed for Cleveland Street and in front of Wolverhampton's Central Library.