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Hilton comes to Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton Development Company — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Hilton Hotels is to have a presence in Wolverhampton, with the announcement today by Wolverhampton Development Company (WDC) of a £15 million development within the City Centre’s Western Quarter.

The 130-bed scheme will be delivered under the Hampton by Hilton brand and developed by Cordwell, with work anticipated to start on site in Spring 2011 and due to complete in Spring 2012. The hotel will be located upon the site of the Fox Hotel on the Penn Road Island.

As Chief Executive of WDC, Stephen Catchpole, was delighted to announce that Wolverhampton is to welcome the Hilton brand, “WDC purchased the Fox Hotel site in 2008 as a strategic acquisition designed to maximise and accelerate commercial interest in this gateway location. The hard work of WDC and our partners has paid off, with a highly respected brand choosing our City in which to invest.”

Malcolm Wilcox is Managing Director of Cordwell, the Midlands-based property developer, which won the competition to develop the site, “We’re extremely excited to be working with Wolverhampton on delivering such a prestigious name and quality development. In addition to the hotel, the site will also offer complementary uses.”

As Director of Regeneration and Environment for Wolverhampton City Council, Councillor Steve Boyes sees the announcement as an important statement of confidence in the City, “Wolverhampton Council is keen to do all that it can to attract investment to our City. This announcement confirms that developers and brands see Wolverhampton as an enabling and welcoming City which provides a clear commercial benefit.”

The first investment opportunity delivered in the Western Quarter by WDC, Will Evans, WDC’s Development Director, who led the team, is confident that the hotel deal will act as a strong stimulus for others in the Quarter, “The £15 million hotel investment, combined with developments such as the start on site for Phase 1 of Interchange are clear signals to the market that positive change is taking place in Wolverhampton.”

Richard Dickson Property Consultancy and Wragges acted as advisors to WDC on the deal.

WDC achievements and next steps Mar 2010

Wolverhampton Development Company — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

WDC today revealed its future deliverables and past successes at a presentation event today for property, regeneration and investment professionals. Click here to download a pdf of the document.

New Magistrates Court for Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton Development Company — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the leading national architectural practices in the law and order sector, Hurd Rolland, are applying for consent to relocate the existing Magistrates Court from the former Town Hall to the city centre car park fronting Darlington Street and Ring Road (St Marks).

Commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, this new £36.9m court will be a 100,000 sq ft development comprising six Civil and nine Magistrates’ courtrooms located on a key gateway site in Wolverhampton city centre.

i54’s first phase triggers £11m road improvements

Wolverhampton Development Company — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

South Staffordshire District Council's Planning Committee unanimously approved Advantage West Midlands’ application to vary the current planning consent for the flagship i54 development site. The Planning Committee decision follows on from Wolverhampton City Council’s approval of the application in January 2010.

The approval will enable the development of up to 50,000 sq ms as part of the first phase. In the current commercial market it is felt this will make i54 more attractive to developers, investors and tenants, offering opportunities of sufficient size to companies wishing to locate on i54.

WDC commissions Colliers for Canalside Plan

Wolverhampton Development Company — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

WDC has appointed Colliers CRE to carry out a Delivery Plan which will help to bring forward schemes in the city’s canalside area.

Working in partnership with Wolverhampton Council, WDC has commissioned Colliers to re-evaluate the existing Canalside Quarter Implementation Plan in light of the changed economic climate. The Study’s remit will include reviewing key sites and considering their most advantageous future use.

Colliers will present its findings in March 2010.

Jones Lang LaSalle to deliver City Centre Office Space Study

Wolverhampton Development Company — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

WDC has appointed Jones Lang LaSalle to establish a commercial property strategy. Focussing upon the city centre core, the Study will assess the area within the ring road and key sites surrounding it.

Linking in with the Regional Spatial Strategy and Joint Core Strategy growth targets for the city centre, it will determine market demand, the form and location of the offer and phasing of development.

Utilising Wolverhampton-based property consultants, First City, as part of its team, Jones Lang LaSalle will deliver its report in March 2010.

Molineux finds local development appealing

Wolverhampton Development Company — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Premiership team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, has made a strategic acquisition of Peal House, a 70,000 sq ft building adjacent to its Molineux ground. Located at the junction of Waterloo Road and Ring Road St. Peter’s, the site is currently an office block.

WDC business plan 2009-2012

Wolverhampton Development Company — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

WDC's revised three year business plan has been approved by its Board, providing a strategy for the company over the next three years. A further year of funding for WDC has also been signed off, indicating confidence in WDC's ability to deliver in what is a difficult economic climate.

WDC's 2009-12 business plan can be viewed here.

RIF first for West Midlands

Wolverhampton Development Company — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The redevelopment of Wolverhampton bus station has become the first project in the West Midlands region to be awarded money through Advantage West Midlands’ Regional Infrastructure Fund, administered on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT).

Advantage West Midlands has approved £9.8 million of funding for Wolverhampton City Council for the £22 million Phase 1 of the Interchange project. The project will transform the transport infrastructure of the City, unlocking the development of new office and retail space, starting with the redevelopment of the bus station.

The regional development agency has committed £12 million of its own funds to the RIF, while the Department for Transport contributed a further £28 million for key transport projects in August 2009.

Due for completion in Spring 2011, the RIF money will be used to clear the current site and redevelop a new bus station in its place, while providing temporary facilities during the construction of the new facility. The money will also facilitate the refurbishment of the listed Queen building and the development of retail and leisure floor space on the site.

In addition to the new bus station, Phase 1 of the Interchange project will deliver improvements to local highway infrastructures and public realm areas. A new pedestrian bridge linking the new bus station with the train station will also be developed under Phase 1, as will improvements to the Cornhill bridge for vehicle access.

Mark Pearce, Corporate Director for Economic Regeneration at Advantage West Midlands said: “A RIF grant has been awarded for the redevelopment of the bus station to provide Wolverhampton with a high quality, efficient transport infrastructure which will help support the city’s future economic growth by providing improved access to jobs and services.

“Understanding the importance of Phase 1 of the Interchange project as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Wolverhampton city centre, the Agency has worked hard to get funding quickly secured for this project and we are delighted that this persistence has paid off and that work will soon be starting on site.

“Given the current economic climate, providing access to the funds required to enable developments like the regeneration of Wolverhampton City Centre to move forward is critical to securing private investment and ensuring regional economic recovery.”

Wolverhampton City Council leader, Councillor Neville Patten said: “We welcome the support and funding from Advantage West Midlands. This development is a good example of the partnership working between the Council and Advantage West Midlands.”

The wider Interchange project, which includes major improvements to the train station (Phase 2), is fundamental to the regeneration of Wolverhampton city centre. As such, it is an integral part of the master planning process, which will be funded by Advantage West Midlands through the Wolverhampton Development Company.

Interchange Nov 09

Wolverhampton Development Company — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Neptune Developments, working in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council, has selected BAM Construction as preferred contractor to build Wolverhampton’s new £20 million bus station.

Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, Councillor Paddy Bradley, welcomed the announcement, ”It is very exciting to see work starting in the city centre on a project that will transform Wolverhampton.

“The Interchange is one of the most important infrastructure developments to have been planned in Wolverhampton for decades and will provide the city with a passenger transport hub fit for the 21st Century”.

Neptune Developments, one of the country’s leading regeneration developers, is renowned for delivering high profile and complex schemes. They have transformed key areas of Liverpool, including Queen Square and are currently developing Mann Island, on the prestigious World Heritage Site on Liverpool’s waterfront, along with a major scheme in New Brighton, Wirral.

Rob Mason, Neptune's Development Director, said: "We are very excited to have started work on the Wolverhampton Interchange scheme and the selection of BAM as the preferred contractor demonstrates that we are firmly on target.

”We are totally committed to Wolverhampton and to delivering an excellent scheme and we look forward to getting out on site and starting to make our vision a reality."

A series of preparatory works started in the city centre this week. These initial works include re-siting of bus stops to Queen Street and Stafford Street and re-locating the travel information centre to premises in Queen Street. These will not come into operation until the bus station closes

BAM’s commercial work includes the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Brindley Place. Its local team recently won the Prime Minister’s Best Public Building Award for Joseph Chamberlain College, also in Birmingham. A series of preparatory works started in the city centre this week.

Neptune Developments is working in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council, together with Centro the region’s transport authority, National Express West Midlands and other bus operators, to deliver the new facility.

WCC 'Victorious' against HSE

Wolverhampton Development Company — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has lost its legal challenge against the granting of planning permission for Victoria Hall, a £40m student village in Wolverhampton.

The HSE went to London's High Court last month complaining it had not been kept properly informed before Wolverhampton Council granted planning permission for the scheme. The judge, however, said the HSE had been aware of the planning permission for seven months before taking court action.

i54 progresses Oct 09

Wolverhampton Development Company — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Both the proposed planning variation and the road package will make i54 more attractive to potential commercial developers and end users The recession has ...

Advantage West Midlands has annonced that it is seeking a variation of the current planning consent which allowed an initial development of up to15,000 sq m to be undertaken prior to the wider development of the 96 ha site.

In the current climate a development of 50,000 sq m is considered to be more attractive as a first phase to developers and to be of sufficient size to offer suitable opportunities to companies wishing to locate on i54.

Approval of this variance of consent will trigger an £11 million investment into the local road system to minimise the traffic impact of this larger Phase 1 i54 development.

Phase 1 will also see the provision of bus services to the site with improved cycling and pedestrian facilities, all intended to reduce private car usage. There will also be initiatives to direct Heavy Goods Vehicles and other car traffic away from nearby residential areas.

Speaking on behalf of Advantage West Midlands, Partnership Director Mark Foley, said:
“Both the proposed planning variation and the road package will make i54 more attractive to potential commercial developers and end users. The recession has hit the commercial property sector very hard and this planning variation, alongside the substantial £11 million investment in the road infrastructure will help to attract developers and inward investment into the site.

“The Agency is confident of the long term future of i54 and we believe it will over time attract the high quality jobs, we have always envisaged. We remain committed to an improved access from Junction 2 of the M54 motorway and are working hard with the City Council, Wolverhampton Development Company, South Staffordshire District Council and the Highways Agency to find a suitable design and funding package.”

Auntie and Molineux

Wolverhampton Development Company — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The restored Molineux Hotel enjoyed 15 minutes of fame today, when The BBC covered its return to glory. Check out the coverage here.

The 18th century hotel, which overlooks Wolverhampton Wanderers' football stadium, was shut in 1979 and nearly destroyed by fire in 2003. However, a campaign was launched to save the Grade II-listed building.

WDC selected The Molineux Hotel as the city's first landmark to be part of its heritage lighting scheme.

Wolverhampton Development Company — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:00:00 GMT

David Cameron aside, the jury’s still out on the latest social networking phenomenon, Twitter. For now, we think we’ll stick with our blog. To read the mind of WDC’s Chief Executive, Stephen Catchpole, click here.

Sunbeam acquisition

Wolverhampton Development Company — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Urban Splash has made its first purchase in Wolverhampton with the acquisition of a former industrial development, known as the Sunbeam Factory.

The four-storey perimeter block acquired by the award-winning developer totals 150,000 sq ft of varying amalgamated industrial buildings.

Stephen Catchpole is Chief Executive of Wolverhampton Development Company (WDC), “Urban Splash is renowned for delivering innovative, high quality commercial and residential developments. Its first purchase in Wolverhampton is testament to the City’s growing appeal as a great place to invest.

“Our role at WDC is to work with partner organisations to increase the pace, scale and quality of development opportunities across the city. Urban Splash’s acquisition is just one of several recent examples where investors are realising the city’s potential.”

The locally listed landmark took on the name Sunbeam due to its former use as the manufacturing hub of Sunbeam Motorcycles. The factory is one end of what used to be an enormous complex, Sunbeamland. Sitting in a prominent position off Penn Road to the South of Wolverhampton Ring Road, it is just five minutes’ walk to the city centre.

Urban Splash has purchased the building, some of which dates back to 1890, from A & J Mucklow Group plc. It is part of its growing presence in the West Midlands, which includes Fort Dunlop and Rotunda.

Will Evans is WDC’s Development Director, “The Sunbeam sale is a welcome addition to the recent announcements of companies investing in the City. In early June, for example, the much awaited application for Phase I of the Interchange scheme was submitted by Neptune Developments with Wolverhampton City Council. This important phase will provide a new world–class bus station together with commercial space.

“In the same month, Scholars’ Walk, a £1.5millon heritage apartment scheme opened in the City Centre’s Broad Street heritage district. It’s highly encouraging that there is so much movement in such a static market.”

Scholars' Walk

Wolverhampton Development Company — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Wolverhampton’s Lord Mayor today formally opened Scholars’ Walk, a new 12-apartment residential development on Stafford Street. Owned and developed by investment company, Start Estates, today’s VIP event saw the City’s Mayor unveil a plaque honouring the historic significance of the site. Built in 1885, Scholars’ Walk lies in an official conservation area. It formerly housed the Wolverhampton School Board before becoming the Register Office and later, an administrative facility for the University. Respected Birmingham architects, SR Davis, have planned the scheme which has also benefitted from £402,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding.

Interchange Phase 1

Wolverhampton Development Company — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The much awaited application for Phase I of the Interchange scheme has been submitted by Neptune Developments with Wolverhampton City Council.

With the OJEU procedure well under way, it’s anticipated that a start on site will happen in October 2009. This important phase will provide a new world–class bus station, together with commercial space. Neptune is likely to seek outline consent for the remainder of the scheme later this year.

Creative professionals are sharing their trade secrets and years of knowledge with the UK's young people to help the next generation

Wolverhampton Development Company — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Creative Careers Surgery is a unique and exciting online audio careers service that gives the next creative generation much needed, realistic and honest advice by giving some of the best creative professionals in the UK a platform to share their inspiring career stories. The concept started as a local radio show, presented by a young media graduate Shivani Mair in 2005 – because too many young people are struggling to achieve their career ambitions – just because they lacked simply advice.

The Creative Careers Surgery has interviewed the creamof the creative crop from the BBC’s Eastenders Director & Senior Broadcast Journalist to Harper Colins Senior Novel Publicist. Big interviewee names include MTV Presenter Tim Kash, music producer Rishi Rich, DJ Nihal, Head of 4Sport Channel 4, Living TV,Tandem Films, Broadcast Magazine, MAC Make-Up, Cosgrove Hall Animators, and internationally acclaimed artist Russell Hatton & Actor Kabir Bedi.

Young people will find over 50 amazing audio interviews online from creative industries such as music, film, art, television, design, dance, radio, theatre, animation, publishing, fashion, journalism and photography.

Research shows that many young people in the UK are confused about their future ambitions and unaware of not only the opportunities that the create sector can bring but that they lack a motivated and positive attitude to their future. The Creative Careers Surgery aims to inform, guide, motivate, inspire and expose you to conventional and unusual careers so that you can act on your talents and start preparing for a successful career, by giving you the chance to hear practical tips, trade secrets, challenges and triumphs of successful creative professionals -in their
own voices.

Ian Kennedy, Freelance Radio script Writer (BBC AN ‘Silver Street’) and Producer said:

“…it’s an invaluable source of real-world insight into the creative industries for young people, and really will help listeners shape a sense of what they themselves could do and how to go about realising their dreams. Given the exposure and variety it deserves, it could become the leading resource for people interesting in being creative in the UK.”

The online interviews provide answers to the questions that most young people love to ask like ‘What’s most important: work experience, portfolio skills, good contacts or a degree?’ and ‘What's the best way to get the job?’ Even if you don't consider yourself as a creative person, the interviews are still worth listening to just to hear these fascinating, professional and celebrity life stories.

So whether you want to be a news reporter or a games designer get a head start from some of the best industry professionals at www.creativecareerssurgery.com

Victoria Hall completion

Wolverhampton Development Company — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Wolverhampton’s 750 unit student village, Victoria Hall, is all set to welcome its first residents with the start of the new academic year in 2009.

For speed and ease of assembly, each of the 750 accommodation units has been prefabricated off site, cutting build time by a year and ensuring the delivery of a high quality product.

Developed by Victoria Hall Limited, the £37 million student village occupies a brownfield site to the east of the city centre and provides a welcome economic boost to the area.

Its striking 25-storey tower - one of the tallest buildings in the West Midlands - will make a strong statement and create a ‘gateway’ landmark for the city.

100,000 reaons to celebrate as Goodyear invests in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton Development Company — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Leading international tyre manufacturer, Goodyear, is investing more than £100,000 in its Wolverhampton plant, making it the European centre for distributing its retread truck tyres, it was announced today.

Instead of running national distribution centres in Madrid, Wittlich in Germany and at the TyreFort in Erdington, tyres made in Wolverhampton will be now shipped directly from the factory to major truck dealers and fleet operators across Europe.

The news follows more than £1.5 million of investment in the Bushbury Lane factory’s retread operation over the past three years. Goodyear says it underlines the US-based firm’s commitment to the factory, where it employs 450 people.