Bulldozers on hold at Charles Clark eyesore

The demolition of an eyesore former car dealership in Wolverhampton has been scrapped after the firm behind its multi-million pound transformation went back to the drawing board, it emerged today.

Six months ago developers announced plans to bulldoze the rundown Charles Clark building in Chapel Ash before transforming the site with 48 apartments and shop space.

But following months of negotiations and talks with city council regeneration bosses, developers have now unveiled revised proposals.

Owners of the derelict former Rover car dealership, which has for years been a blot on one of the main gateways to Wolverhampton, want to herald a new era for the site with a contemporary building.

New plans announced today include the creation of 36 apartments and 5,000 sq ft of retail space. The current building would be used to house some of the development while a new building would be created adjacent to the site to house more apartments.

The transformation plans will be submitted to the council within days and bosses said they were hoping to start work within eight weeks.

Talks are already being held with a "number" of supermarket chains about transforming the former dealership. The prominent building has been boarded up since closing in 2001.

Wolverhampton property mogul Kultar Dale, of city-based Dale Investments, took over the site at the end of 2008. He said today: "We have had some really positive meetings with

Wolverhampton City Council and we have come up with the definitive plans for the site.

"The architects are just finishing drawing up the plans and they will be submitted in days rather than weeks. Under the new plans we will no longer be demolishing the current building, but refurbishing it.

"The apartments, which will be two-bedroom, will be affordable as the council said there was a shortage of affordable housing in the area. We are hoping for work to start within six to eight weeks."