Worries lifted over work on Wolverhampton's £10.6m i10 development
Wolverhampton City Council has moved to allay fears that work on the £10.6million i10 development has stalled after concerns were raised over a lack of progress on the scheme.
Construction firm Balfour Beatty is building the four-storey retail and office block next to the Wolverhampton Bus Station as part of the city centre Interchange project.
The work is due to be completed by November, but a city councillor and members of the public are among those who have said that no workers were present at the site for up to three weeks after Christmas.
Work started on the development in September and when finished it will feature six shops on the ground level and three floors of office space.
Greene King became the first tenant to sign up to the new building and plans to open a Hungry Horse pub restaurant on the ground floor.
Councillor Zahid Shah, who represents St Peter's ward, said he feared the project may be doomed to failure due to a lack of interest from firms in moving into the city centre.
He said: "The fact that there have been no workers on the site is a big worry. This is a big investment but the council is being very defensive about the issue. They are doing nothing to attract investment into the city centre.
"Spaces at the building have been available for months now and so far only one company has agreed to move in. It is a big concern to me that no one seems to be interested."
Matthew Hadley, aged 28, who regularly uses the nearby railway station to travel from Wolverhampton to Birmingham, said: "When the plans came out I was pleased something was being done around the station because it looks depressing.
"I thought it would take shape around Christmas but nothing seemed to happen for ages. We've seen a lot of things promised for the city only to be let down, so if things get delayed you think 'here we go again'.
"I'm sure once it's done it will be just what is needed for the city centre."
However, Paul Brown, spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, said: "Work on i10 is progressing to schedule, with construction on track to be completed as planned by the end of November 2015.
"The preparatory ground works have been completed and work began earlier this week on the erection of the steel frame, which will start to take shape over the coming days."
The whole Interchange project, which also includes upgraded bus, rail and tram facilities and a new canal quarter, is considered a regeneration priority for council bosses.
The council has also bought the leases for the neighbouring Victoria Square and Queen's Building and plans to convert first floor space into an office development.
