Demolition set to pave way for new £6million events space in city centre
Box Spaces are proving a big hit in major cities across the country
DEMOLITION works are starting this month to pave the way for a new £6million entertainment and events Box Space in Wolverhampton city centre, which it is hoped will bring tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The scheme, which includes demolition, readying the cleared ground and the purchase of new shipping containers, will make new use of the area between Cleveland Street and Bell Street.
Preparatory work has already begun, with machines moving in to demolish derelict shop buildings at 1-7a Cleveland Street.
The cleared site and the car park sitting between Cleveland Street and
These box spaces are hugely popular in other areas of the country such as Newcastle, London and Sheffield Councillor Steve Evans
Bell Street will then be used for the construction of the Box Space, which is set to open in 2024.
Computer generated images show how the shipping container-style venue could look, subject to final designs and planning approval.
The Box Space will also support the official reopening of the Civic Halls in June 2023, which will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors a year to the city centre. It’s hoped that both developments will boost the local economy by more than £10million annually.
City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Change, Councillor Steve Evans, told the Bugle: “This is a major milestone in the exciting transformation of the west of the city centre that will boost footfall and create invaluable employment and business opportunities.
“The demolition of vacant shops at 1-7a Cleveland Steet and use of the adjoining Bell Street car park are part of long-held regeneration aspirations in the City Centre Area Action Plan.
“Together, they will form the site for the Box Space – a modern food, beverage and entertainment facility.
“These type of box spaces, using shipping container-style cabins, are hugely popular in other areas of the country such as Newcastle, London, Sheffield and Sunderland, and will be a superb addition, complementing Wolverhampton’s existing leisure, events and evening economy.”