Cinema site set for hotel premiere

These latest pictures show how a hotel, residential and retail development is set to transform one of Wolverhampton's neglected city centre sites.

Wolverhampton Triangle, bordered by School Street, Worcester Street and Little Brick Kiln Street, is to undergo a £35 million redevelopment.

City-based architect Tweedale has put the emphasis on a design sympathetic to the history of the area, which is near Penn Road island, with a former cinema set to be transformed into a luxury hotel

The proposal intends to preserve the Scala Cinema building as the central part of the facade fronting the Worcester Street conservation area.

The frontage of the cinema will be refurbished and repaired and will include a contribution to public art in the glazed frieze above, reflecting cinema billboards from times gone by.

Tweedale's Nick Chapman said: "It will incorporate the traditional red facing of much Wolverhampton architecture, complemented by contrasting aluminium windows, copper panels and galvanised balcony features.

"The height of the main feature corner is gently graduated along Worcester Street and School Street to reduce to a height which complements the adjoining conservation area."

Mr Chapman added: "The lobby of the four-star Ramada hotel will reflect the era of the cinema with eclectic colour schemes from the period of original construction, while new high quality retail frontages will be provided along Worcester Street to attract shoppers out to a previously redundant part of the city.

"The scheme has evolved to provide a high quality development of a contemporary design which respects the character and setting of this historic part of the city."

The 75-bed hotel will include a restaurant, bar and small meeting facilities.

The five retail units will be aimed at the boutique market to complement the nearby £300 million Summer Row scheme.

Mr Chapman said: "We are looking at the higher end of the market, with quality retail units rounding off the project."

There will also be 90 apartments. Work is expected to begin this summer and last 18 months.