Plans for 370 homes on former Wolverhampton Sainsbury's site sparks fears from neighbours

Plans to build 370 new homes, cafes and bars on a major site in Wolverhampton city centre have sparked objections from people living in flats around the site.

Manchester-based Capita and Centric announced proposals to redevelop the former Sainsbury’s site at St George’s, with hundreds of new flats, along with offices, a food hall, study spaces and food-and-drink venues.

Council leader Councillor Stephen Simkins had said the plans represented an exciting opportunity to create a ‘transformational neighbourhood’ on a long-vacant site.

But Mary Bolland, who lives at The Curve in Tempest Street, feared that her home would be overwhelmed by an excessively intensive development.

She said it would transform her peaceful neighbourhood into a crowded, rowdy area with increased traffic and parking problems.

She also voiced concerns that a new road would go into Tempest Street, opposite the Eclipse Kickboxing centre which is attended by children, and said mature trees which had been planted around Sainsbury’s would be lost.

“The plans will include high-rise flats which will surround The Curve, where I live,” said Miss Bolland.

“I have been here for 17 years, and I love it here. Although it’s in the city centre, it’s really quiet in the evening because we are surrounded by trees.

“Three-hundred-and-seventy homes is massive. The homes have no individual gardens and residents will be subjected to noise and air pollution.

“There will be no parking except for a few disabled parking spaces, which will then impact on surrounding areas. Most of the established trees on the site will go.”

She also voiced concerns about disruption during the construction of the scheme.

“I am 75 now and I'm not sure I will survive the impact of the construction and consequential problems,” she said.

“There are lots of people who are unhappy about it.”

Miss Bolland said the proposals which were displayed at an event in the city’s Lupo Lounge made no reference to support services such as doctors, dentists or schools.

She also voiced concerns that a similar scheme by the same developer, in Bolton, had been best with reports of anti-social behaviour, and said that the rental income from the flats would all go out of the area.

The loss of the car park would also create problems for nearby businesses and the colleges which depended on it.

The Grade II listed former St George’s church, which had been adapted to form the entrance of Sainsbury’s, would remain at the heart of the neighbourhood, surrounded by new public spaces and courtyards, said the developer. It added that the proposals would include greener walking and cycling routes through the neighbourhood, with improved landscaping and seating providing areas for people ‘to hang out’.

Martin Crews, development director at Capital & Centric, said the developer was keen to hear the views of people who already lived and worked in the area.

“St George’s has been sitting empty for too long and we’ve got a real opportunity to create something special here, but the best ideas often come from the people who know the area best,” he said.

He said the scheme was an opportunity to create more homes, greener spaces, and independent food and drink venues.

Councillor Simkins praised the developer’s record in complex urban regeneration schemes.

“This is a chance to deliver much-needed homes alongside events and public spaces, shops and amenities, creating opportunities for our communities and enhancing lives at the heart of the city,” he said.

“I would urge people to go along to the event, take a look at how the proposals are shaping up for St George’s and have a say on the future of what is set to be a transformational neighbourhood in our city centre.”

The site has been lying idle since Sainsbury’s moved to its new site at Raglan Street in 2014.

The developer said its plans had been influenced by conversations with students, young people, older residents, community groups, and Wolverhampton University at a round table event earlier this year.

The company said it intended to submit a formal planning application later in the year, once it had looked at the feedback from residents.

It is holding a consultation which runs until Monday (August 3) and people can have their say on the website capitalandcentric.com/project/st-georges