New Starbucks to open as University of Wolverhampton campus redevelopment moves forward

The store will open at the university's city campus as part of its £4 million redevelopment of its courtyard facilities, bosses have revealed.

The city centre campus project– part of a £250m investment plan to boost economic growth in the region – is currently underway with work due to be complete by the autumn.

The redevelopment includes refurbishing the food court at the Millennium City building in Wulfruna Street, landscaping the main courtyard area and creating better access to the Wulfruna Building, also in Wulfruna Street.

Emma Furnival, assistant director for hospitality and accommodation services at the university, said: "We're really excited about opening the new Starbucks store.

"The investment at the city centre campus is focused on improving and extending catering facilities providing more choice for students, staff and visitors as well as creating a more attractive environment for everyone who uses the campus."

The store will offer a mixture of bench seating, high stools and soft furnishings in the Millennium City Campus in the centre of Wolverhampton.

The redevelopment of the city centre campus is one of a number of multi-million pound schemes being carried out by the university as it spends £250m over five years.

Money will be spent on a host of ongoing projects, including the £65m Springfield Brewery construction college, a £25m science block and an £18m business school.

Meanwhile, last month plans for a new manufacturing skills centre at the university's Springfield Campus as part of an £11.75m project were submitted.

The Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills is set to open for business in August 2017, thanks to £7.6m from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership's Growth Deal.

The centre will function as an employer-led training facility for the Black Country, designed to improve productivity and growth in the high value manufacturing sector.

The plans involve an L-shaped brick building which was constructed in the early 1880s and originally used as the brewery's stables until, with the coming of motor transport, it was used as the brewery's vehicle garage and repair shop.