£5m boost for major city centre regeneration scheme
A £250 million project to regenerate a council depot to create a major mixed-use scheme has been boosted by £5 million in new funding.
Brewers Yard in Wolverhampton will see the development of up to 1,300 houses and apartments and about 60,000 sq ft of new retail and commercial space.
West Midlands Combined Authority has agreed to support the project with £5 million to kickstart the first phase of work, namely the construction of almost 600 new homes.
This capital will pay for the demolition of the existing buildings at the site and the clean-up of the land so it is ready for redevelopment.
The project site is the existing City of Wolverhampton Council depot, in Culwell Street, which will relocate its fleet services to a new base in Hickman Avenue alongside the city’s wholesale market which will also undergo a major revamp.
Brewers Yard is being developed by the city council in partnership with Birminghambased developer Court Collaboration, with backing from the combined authority.
West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “This is another investment in Wolverhampton from our devolved housing and land funds and it’s an important step in delivering the first enabling phase of the Brewers Yard development which will breathe new life into a large swathe of the city centre. Not only will it seek to deliver energy efficient and affordable new homes and hundreds of jobs for local people but, by regenerating another brownfield site, we are also helping to relieve pressure on the green belt.
“We will continue to work with Wolverhampton and other local councils and developers to unlock and regenerate our old derelict industrial sites and help drive fresh economic growth.”
City of Wolverhampton Council deputy leader Cllr Stephen Simkins added: “This is an important milestone in delivering Brewers Yard for the city – one of the biggest game-changing schemes in the region.
“In the coming years, phase one will seek to deliver top-quality living at the heart of our city, building new communities within existing communities, with connectivity to state-of-the-art transport facilities.
“It will have easy access to a re-invented city centre providing a great leisure and sporting offer, a vibrant public events programme, outstanding arts and culture offer, and a thriving commercial district with wellpaid jobs.
“The proposed relocation of the council’s depot and fleet services operations will make them more efficient and the redevelopment of the Hickman Avenue site will provide a major uplift to the city’s wholesale market.”