Express & Star

Wolverhampton Faces demolition to start in weeks

Work to demolish the former Faces nightclub is set to begin in weeks after full planning permission was granted.

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The former nightclub is set to be demolished

The old club building will be knocked down to make way for a new multi-million pound city centre home for Wolverhampton College.

Full planning permission has now been granted for the scheme, which forms part of a City Learning Quarter on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street.

Ground-floor tenants of the nightclub, Compton Care, have already vacated the building.

And now full demolition works are expected to start in May, with completion expected towards the end of summer.

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The move is part of the creation of a £50 million learning quarter.

Vacant buildings in the council’s ownership on St George’s Parade will also be pulled down as part of the project.

The demolition programme will enable detailed ground investigations to take place ahead of a full planning application being submitted for the development.

The learning quarter will be around the Old Hall Street and St George’s Parade area.

Wolverhampton College’s Paget Road campus will move its activities to the site and will also encompass the college’s existing Metro One Campus, the council’s Adult Education Service and central library.

Richard Lawrence, Wolverhampton Council’s director of regeneration, said: “The City Learning Quarter will sit in a key city centre location and is part of how we are re-imagining our city centre.

“It will provide a huge facelift to that area and bring in increased footfall to help boost the local economy. It is vital we improve the city’s learning, apprenticeship and employment offers to young people and adults in the City of Wolverhampton.

“The City Learning Quarter will provide an inspirational environment for people to learn in and will offer excellent connectivity to the near-by railway station, bus station and tram stops.

"We are working hard with City of Wolverhampton College to ensure we deliver an education hub that will enable education and skills providers, students and residents to flourish and grow together.”