Flats and cafe plan for former bank in Wolverhampton city centre
A grade II listed former bank in Wolverhampton city centre could be converted into flats and a new cafe.
The planning application submitted to City of Wolverhampton Council asks for permission to convert the 148-year-old former Lloyds Bank in Queen Square, Wolverhampton, into 20 new flats.
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The building’s former bank hall would also be converted into a cafe under the proposals and would make use of the ground floor’s 19th century ‘Italianate’ Italian Renaissance-inspired features including the grand entrance, etched windows, plinths and pillars.
Last year, Lloyds Bank announced it would be leaving the grade II listed building and relocating to a new branch in the nearby Mander Centre.
The four-storey former bank dates back to 1878. Queens Cinema was built next to the bank in 1914 which was then converted into a ballroom in the late 1950s.
The ballroom was demolished in 1970 with the existing side and rear extension built to provide offices for the existing bank in 1980. The bank was listed in the intervening years.
A ‘living wall’ using greenery and plants would cover part of the front facade of the modern extension, the application by Gary Hartland from Wingate Associates said.
A statement included with the application said: “The conversion and regeneration of the building immediately following the current occupier’s move will prevent the risk of additional vacant floorspace being present within the conservation area and it will preserve and regenerate the building before the risk of building fabric deterioration worsens.
“Refurbishment of the existing façade and localised repairs to the modern extension to address the current deterioration will be carried out as part of the works.
“The proposals will provide an improvement to the historic building through a sensitive approach to the listed elements.
“The conversion reinforces the local distinctiveness by providing a continuous use of the building and enhancing its economic viability by adopting a different use.”
If the work is approved, it would be the second of the city centre’s landmark buildings to be converted into flats in as many months with the council recently approving a move to turn the city centre’s flagship M&S into more than 70 flats.
