Wolverhampton College eyes-up old hospital site for campus
A landmark former hospital site could be transformed into a college campus - just months after plans were pulled to turn it into a supermarket.
The Wolverhampton Royal Hospital has long been at the centre of a bitter tug-of-war between supermarket giants - ended by Tesco in January, when the firm ducked out of its proposal.
But now the City of Wolverhampton College has shown interest to take the site on, launching a feasibility study of the buildings as it moves forward with its plans for a new central city campus to replace its Paget Road site.
Principal Mark Robertson said the study was an exciting step forward in the college's vision for a high quality, state-of-the-art college in the heart of the city.
He said: "The new campus development will provide employers and students with the skills they need to compete locally, regionally and even internationally.
"The campus will help to reinforce the value of education to the city, and will provide many thousands of people with better life chances in the future."
The hospital closed its doors in 1997, and the site became the centre of a drawn-out battle between Sainsbury's and Tesco.
Although Tesco eventually prevailed, plans for a £65m store were scrapped earlier this year, while Sainsbury's £60 million St Mark's Store, in Chapel Ash, opened last year.
Councillor Andrew Johnson said he was 'devastated' when Tesco pulled out, as they had been trying to get the site sorted for many years. The council has since been working with Tesco to find an alternative use for the site.
The Ettingshall ward councillor said: "The site has been derelict and blighted for many, many years so we would be absolutely delighted if it could be put to good use, whether that be residential, business or a housing development.
"If the college is able to find a use for the site that would be very welcome.
"We have put a great deal of effort into trying to redevelop the All Saints area with new housing and so on, as it has for a long time been a pretty run-down and deprived area of the city.
"We have tried to, as a city council, invest in it and encourage private sector investment in order to redevelop the area."
The feasibility study, which is being funded by a grant from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will be carried out by Inspired Spaces.
Stewart Towe, Black Country LEP Chairman, said: "The Black Country LEP are delighted to be investing in the feasibility study for a new City of Wolverhampton College campus, which will provide the basis for a cost efficient proposal to assess the benefits of the former Royal Hospital site.
"Through supporting the study the Black Country LEP is helping develop a 21st Century facility for a 21st Century workforce, highlighting our commitment to supporting investment and business growth in the Black Country."
The study will be completed by March next year, when a formal development bid will be submitted to Wolverhampton council.
