Builders have started work on hundreds of new homes and shops in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, to help bring more life back into the heart of the city centre. This £18 million investment marks the beginning of a major change for the area between Darlington Street and School Street.
This first stage of the build (Phase 1, known as Bicycle Works) will deliver 331 new homes and around 10,000 sq ft of ground-floor retail, restaurant and commercial space for cafes, restaurants and local businesses. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is providing an £18 million investment (from its Investment Zone and Brownfield Land funds) to help tackle the local housing shortage and boost the economy.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said the investment is a major boost for the city (see WMCA press release). Express & Star reported council leaders described the scheme as the city’s “largest regeneration project.”
The City of Wolverhampton Council is working with developers — led by the English Cities Fund (ECF), a partnership between Muse, Legal & General and Homes England — to create this new neighbourhood. The council and WMCA say the project aims to attract more residents to stay in the city centre rather than moving to the outskirts.
Phase 1 construction is projected to be completed by late 2027. The Wolverhampton City Centre BID and other local business groups have said that more people living in the middle of town should provide additional customers for shops and restaurants during the evening.
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