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Work to start on £10m Wolverhampton interchange

Work will start within weeks on the long-awaited £10.6m interchange project in Wolverhampton, bosses have revealed.

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An aerial view of Wolverhampton

It comes as construction firm Balfour Betty is named as the firm that will build the huge unit by the bus station.

Council chiefs continue to hold talks with potential developers for the building, which will be the most energy efficient in the city.

Balfour Beatty will work with developers Neptune Developments on the project, which includes six retail units on the ground level and three floors of office space.

It is due to be completed late next year and is a key part of the wider Interchange regeneration scheme, which will create more than 1,000 jobs and is expected to attract major investment to the city.

Greene King will be the first tenants in the building when it opens a Hungry Horse pub.

Regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson said getting Balfour Beatty on board was a 'major milestone'.

He added: "The wider Interchange is a main gateway to the city centre and is therefore a strategic regeneration priority for the council.

"The appointment of Balfour Beatty to design and construct Interchange 10 is a major milestone in the redevelopment of this key site.

"I was pleased last week to be able to welcome Greene King as our first tenant of Interchange 10 and am looking forward to work getting underway in the near future."

The Hungry Horse pub restaurant on the ground floor will create 50 jobs.

Council spokesman Paul Brown said negotiations were advanced with two other businesses interested in moving into the site.

Jon Adams, Balfour Beatty delivery unit managing director, Northern Major Projects, said; "We are delighted to have been awarded this landmark development in Wolverhampton city centre."

Greene King has submitted applications to Wolverhampton City Council for Premises Licence and a Table and Chairs Licence and this will be determined later this month.

The £10.6m Interchange project has also seen the authority acquire the leases for the neighbouring Victoria Square and Queen's Building and convert unoccupied first floor space into an office development.

Rob Mason, development director at Neptune, said: "Starting work on this important development will help maintain the momentum of the overall Interchange project and send out a strong message that Wolverhampton city centre is a place to locate to."

The first phase of the Interchange programme, comprising the new bus station, access improvement to the railway station, the creation of the Victoria Square and the refurbishment of the Queen's Building was completed in 2012.

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