Huge step forward for final part of Wolverhampton city centre transformation for shoppers, buses and cyclists

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Investment Board agreed the full business case for the Wolverhampton City Centre Movement – bus, cycle and walk package.

The project is the third and final part of the City Centre Public Realm Improvements Programme, following completed schemes in Victoria Street and the Civic Halls areas.

Councillors and officers from City of Wolverhampton Council said the project will play a key part in attracting investment into the area.

A report to the board said the project’s ‘benefit to cost’ ratio (which indicates a value for money for a project with a score of one or above indicating cost-effectiveness) was high with a rating of 3.75.

In this phase, work will be carried out within the confines of the A4150 Ring Road including Queen Square, Darlington Street and Lichfield Street.

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This will include enhancing Queen Square as a ‘high-quality’ events area, a two-way cycle route, one-way access for buses and taxis, work to widen footpaths, seating and lighting, relocated bus stops with new shelters, improved signage and raised kerbs.

Following the board’s approval of the business case, City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement funding of £13.530m will be provided for the scheme.

City of Wolverhampton Council has already secured £2,972,000 from the Towns Fund and £2,607,283 from the Active Travel Fund, subject to grant agreement, to complete the two-year project.

Marianne Page, Senior Responsible Officer, said: “It’s a high-priority investment programme for Wolverhampton.

“We’ve already delivered early phases very successfully and they’ve helped to stimulate wider investment in the city centre so keen to progress with delivery on this one.”

Councillor Chris Burden said: “It is a high quality scheme and if you’ve seen the work that was done with similar interventions on Victoria Street, it draws from a very high quality pallet of materials in Wolverhampton.

“Businesses have independently come out and cited the quality of the works as reasons for investment on the units facing these streets, so there has been a really beneficial impact from it they’ve put in their own words.”

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When asked about the ‘pain’ suffered during works on major schemes, Councillor Burden said: “It’s important not to minimise that aspect.

“But I think, in Wolverhampton, there has been a lot of best practice learned from how we previously integrated these schemes and how we can go forward.

“These (schemes) make noticeable improved changes and if you look where it’s going to be impactful in Wolverhampton, this is really a big stretch of the main drag of the city centre.

“It’s going to feel a lot more impactful simply because it is one continuous road being improved rather than side streets.”