According to reports, a popular UK city centre is undergoing a major £19 million transformation aimed at boosting the local economy and attracting more visitors. The scheme will see wide-ranging improvements across parts of Wolverhampton, including brighter and wider streets, more public spaces for events, and additional greenery and seating. The project is designed to improve access for pedestrians, cyclists and traffic, while helping to attract further investment into the area.
Once finished, the project is expected to deliver improved public spaces, better walking and cycling routes, and a more attractive city centre overall. Works are set to begin on sections of Lichfield Street and Queen Square early next month. There will be a short pause to operations on Upper Darlington Street, between Waterloo Road and North Street, while preparations are made following the finalisation of technical designs.
The latest phase follows the completion of first-stage works on lower Darlington Street, which were finished in November ahead of the busy Christmas period. The wider transformation spans three key locations and remains on track to be completed in 2027. City of Wolverhampton Council has approved plans by property developer Arshad Ellahi to turn the former Chapel Court Job Centre on the corner of Queen Street and Market Street in Wolverhampton into four new shops, 28 one-and-two-bed flats and a 20-room basement hotel.
The job centre closed in early 2023 and has been empty since. It has since been subject to frequent vandalism and anti-social behaviour rendering the prominent city centre building an eyesore. The planning application was submitted in October 2023 and has now finally been approved by City of Wolverhampton Council.
The council said the work would bring an empty and “important” building back to life.