City's £200m culture revamp

Canalside bars and cafes will breathe new life into Wolverhampton city centre as part of a £200 million transformation, the Express & Star can reveal today.

A bustling waterside area is set to be created under the ambitious plans that are modelled on Birmingham's popular Brindley Place, pictured.

A stretch of the Birmingham canal next to the city's train station will form a key part of plans to create a new transport interchange in the city.

The proposals include a glass-fronted railway station, a four-star hotel and more than 200 new homes alongside the canal basin.

Developers had hoped to submit their plans to regeneration chiefs in September. Today it emerged they would be lodged in the New Year having been delayed for the canal's regeneration.

Deputy council leader and regeneration boss Councillor Peter Bilson said today: "More work has been carried out on the scheme, which will embrace the area which fronts on to the water.

"Aside from the houses it could now see bars and cafes developed and it will link the canal area to the interchange.

"It will hopefully have the feel of Brindley Place."

The interchange project will create around 3,000 jobs and it is hoped that once complete it will create a transport hub to rival Birmingham and Manchester.

The dream would also see the bus station remodelled and a new 1,400-space multi-storey car park built.

The council now has to sign an agreement to work alongside developers Neptune on the plans, which are expected to be completed by the end of next month.

The platforms and recently-installed footbridge at the station will stay.

The interchange will incorporate the expansion of the Midland Metro, with tramlines extended throughout the city to run along Lichfield Street and into the complex.

The existing car park will be demolished.