Brand-new development heading to historic Wolverhampton site

The success of the new i10 building, near the bus and railway stations, has seen the city suddenly in demand from firms looking for top quality offices.

To meet that demand, the council is planning to build offices on the old Steam Mill site beside the railway and on the car park beside the Chubb Buildings, over the road from i10.

Plans are now being drawn up for a major design competition to encourage architects to come up with a top quality blueprint for a building that could serve as a company's ultra-modern national headquarters but still fit in with neighbouring Victorian landmarks such as the Chubb Buildings and the Prince Albert pub.

The proposed 'i9' building would provide around 50,000 sq ft of office and commercial space, and work could start on the site before the end of next year.

Tim Johnson, Wolverhampton council's strategic director of place, said the i10 had created a demand for high quality office space in the city centre.

The first top-grade office building in the city centre, built by the council at a cost of £10.6 million, the showcase i10 was filled with tenants in just nine months.

"Since then we have seen continuing demand for quality space in that location," said Mr Johnson.

"i9 was always envisaged to satisfy that demand, but we want to raise the bar even further in terms of design. It is a sensitive area, so what we need there is something much higher quality in terms of design."

The aim is to launch the scheme at MIPIM UK, one of the UK's biggest property events, at Olympia later this month. The country's top firms of architects will compete to come up with designs for the new landmark.

Mr Johnson said it would need to be a 'flexible' design that could serve as a company's national head office.

"This is the one site in the city centre that would lend itself to be very distinctive, high quality headquarters building for someone. We know there are a few inquiries swirling around the market for that kind of building."

Mr Johnson said he was hoping to be able to announce a developer for the scheme by the time of the international MIPIM property show, at Cannes, next March.

The redevelopment of the old Steam Mill site, in Corn Hill, will also create around 50,000 sq ft of offices next to the railway line.

It comes as development in the city picks up steam, with a string of new developments under way or about to start.