Historic firm in move for Gigaport

An engineering firm has moved from its home of almost 100 years to make way for Walsall's new multi-million pound Gigaport scheme.

The council has acquired the site formerly occupied by Noirit Ltd in Hatherton Street. It plans to demolish the buildings remaining on the site, including the former Fitters Arms pub.

Once work is done, it plans to market the site for firms keen to move into the planned hi-tech "business corridor." Noirit Ltd has moved its staff and operations to nearby Portland Street, and business is continuing as normal.

Walsall Gigaport will be a £400 million business quarter just outside the town centre, boasting a high-speed fibre optic communications system.

A planning application has been submitted to demolish properties standing at 17 to 23 Hatherton Street "to facilitate wider regeneration proposals under Walsall Gigaport".

Hoardings advertising the scheme will be put up around the site.

Regeneration chief Councillor Adrian Andrew said today: "This is about land assembly, and we want to continue the successes we have already had in this.

"We have helped Noirit find a new base.

"Hopefully, people will see hoardings go up around the patches of land.

"What we will hopefully see going up shortly are some quite innovative hoardings with simple text numbers on there so they are easy to remember for people driving past."

An advertising hoarding is also to be put around a former eyesore site in Walsall.

Lime House, in Littleton Street West, has been demolished, and the local authority is seeking permission to put up a hoarding in College Way and Littleton Street.

The building was one of the last limestone buildings in the town but had become a magnet for vandals and arsonists.