Major changes coming to Walsall in 2026 - here is where the £1.5billion transformation stands at the moment

Over a third of the figure has been spent already on projects which are completed and others underway.

As we move forward into 2026, we take a look at each of the projects and where they’re up to.

Walsall Town Centre

The Connected Gateway Project aims to improve the Saddlers Centre and improve the connection between the railway station and St Paul’s bus station. It involves the demolition of two large buildings in the heart of the town, which is scheduled to take place in the New Year, 2026.

Some improvements to the Saddlers Shopping Centre were completed during 2025, including the reintroduction of the Three Men in a Boat automaton and upgrades to Bradford Mall.

Also over the last twelve months the custom-built Sister Dora barge was unveiled, which is now moored in the canal basin to help with cleaning and maintenance.

Work on a new canal footbridge linking the waterfront apartments on the south of the canal, to the Crown Wharf Retail Park on the north will commence in early 2026.

It was granted planning permission in 2024 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.

Also set to be completed is the Creative Industries Enterprise Centre inside the Guildhall. Work on the Grade II listed building at the top of the high street started in 2025 and is set to be completed by summer 2026.

Finally in the town centre, planning permission was granted for the old Marks & Spencer to become an Adult Learning Centre for Walsall College in 2025.

Works are scheduled to commence in June 2026 and the facility should be ready to open for students in September 2027.

Willenhall

In December 2024, deputy leader councillor Adrian Andrew defiantly vowed demolition ‘will start in the new year’ of 2025 at Villiers Street, Moat Street, New Hall Street, Stafford Street and Temple Bar.

The ‘new beginning’ will see 107 homes built in the area, which has become a target for antisocial behaviour and arson.

In September this year, Councillor Andrew said residents will see buildings come down at the ‘end of October, early November’ 2025.

The council said works, including the removal of rubble and asbestos, did commence in October but as we go into 2026 the eyesore buildings still remain.

Walsall Council said residents will see buildings come down once the sites have been made safe.

Also in Willenhall, works to deliver a new segregated cycle lane have brought the town to a halt.

Since January 2025 works have been ongoing on Willenhall Road, New Road and Somerford Place and are expected to continue until Spring 2026.

Transport for West Midlands, leading the project, has removed lane closures on the A454, Portobello Roundabout and Somerford Place over the Christmas period.

Darlaston Place for Neighbourhoods

The year of 2025 has been a turbulent one for the Darlaston Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme.

In October 2023, Darlaston was awarded £20million of government investment to be spent over ten years in order to level up the ‘overlooked’ town.

But since the make-up of the decision-making board was announced in 2025, a long-running row has persisted.

The board is made up of representatives from education and housing organisations, West Midlands Police, political leaders and some Darlaston residents and business owners.

But some locals and ward members Councillors Paul and Chris Bott, husband and wife, have fiercely criticised the make-up, believing that it should be resident-led.

The fall out has led to protests, petitions and resignations throughout the year, but as it stands, the board has continued as it started.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the board Manjit Jhooty has also been caught up in headlines.

He and his brother Sarbjit Jhooty both owned pharmacy brands trading as Jhoots Pharmacies.

The chain has been at the centre of union allegations of staff going without pay and repeated cases of branches being closed.

Throughout the turmoil, Manjit has remained steadfast in the fact that all of his 21 stores are unaffected and remain open as usual, and only Sarbjit’s have been affected.

On October 15 2025, MPs raised concerns about the running of the Jhoots Pharmacy chain in the House of Commons.

Later the same day, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood returned a £2,500 donation Manjit had made to her constituency office, saying she was ‘deeply concerned by the revelations relating to Jhoots Pharmacy’.

According to Companies House, Manjit resigned as director of Jhoots Group Limited, one day after the donation was returned, leaving Sarbjit as the only remaining director.

In December 2025, after ‘irreparable damage to the brand’, Manjit rebranded his company name to JHL Pharmacy.

Willenhall and Darlaston Railways Stations

Construction of the two sites is in its very final stages, and both of the stations are expected to be open to the public in early 2026, two years later than the original deadline.

The project, delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority with contractor Kier Transportation, will see passenger trains stopping at both the towns for the first time since 1965.

The scheme has faced several setbacks including the collapse of lead contractor Buckingham Group, a pop-up unauthorised building in Willenhall which led to plans changing at the 11th hour, and spiralling costs.

The project is expected to cost £85million – a third more than the original budget of £59million.

Aldridge

The year 2025 saw the completion of Walsall’s £32m ‘state-of-the-art’ super tip in Aldridge.

The council had hoped to open the 72 hectare site, officially named the Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station, during late 2025.

In December, portfolio holder for street scene, Councillor Suky Samra, said the Middlemore Lane site is expected to open ‘sometime in late January’, once permits have been issued.

Also in Aldridge, West Midland Rail Executive has carried out surveys at the proposed new railway station site, which is expected to be up and running in 2027.

Bloxwich

In September 2025 the Bloxwich Launchpad opened its doors to the public in the former Post Office on Market Place.

Funded through the Bloxwich Town Deal, the facility is equipped with specialist equipment and software, modern work spaces and friendly staff on hand to help.

Elsewhere in the town, the Greening Bloxwich programme, announced in 2023, aimed to transform King George V Playing Fields into a ‘destination of choice’.

Works include bringing back into use the Pavilion and Park Lodge and installing new play equipment and multi-use games areas.

Bloxwich and Leamore Parks were both refurbished with new play equipment in 2025.

SPARK

A huge £126m industrial and logistics development is taking place at the former James Bridge Copper Works off Reservoir Place.

Once complete the site will create 620,000 sq ft of employment space and is expected to create 1,100 jobs.

In November 2025, construction was completed on the first buildings, marking the end of phase one. Phase two will see another three units developed which are expected to be complete by autumn 2026.