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PICTURED: Wolverhampton Netto flattened

A landmark former department store in Wolverhampton city centre has been reduced to little more than a pile of rubble.

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Wolverhampton council is bulldozing the old Rackhams, which later became a Netto shop, as part of the regeneration of the Southside area of the city.

As this picture shows, work is progressing well on the demolition of the building in Snow Hill, with work on track.

Demolition started in January and will see the former shop razed to the ground to make way for new city centre car parking.

The Rackhams store closed in 1992 and Netto shut its doors in 2009. The building also used to house the city's archives and local studies service.

The site is expected to be cleared by April and it will then be incorporated into the main car park at the back of the building.

Wolverhampton's deputy council leader, Councillor Peter Bilson, said: "Demolition remains on track and the change to the landscape in the Southside area of the city is already very visible.

"It forms a major part of the council's multi-million pound regeneration plans and will present another exciting development opportunity for Wolverhampton."

Demolition started in January is on track to be cleared by April

The car park will be accessed from the existing council-owned Temple Street car park and the income generated will be used to support the cost of the demolition.

The pavements on Snow Hill and Temple Street next to the site will remain closed while the demolition takes place.

One lane of Snow Hill will remain closed to traffic at least until the works reach ground level.

When the work has been completed, the council will market sites at Southside later this year.

Councillor Peter Bilson said he hoped the work will encourage developers to come forward.

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