Fresh plans in for Wolverhampton’s Beatties

Eden Property Group has submitted revised plans for the redevelopment of the former Beatties department store in Wolverhampton. Eden bought the 376,636 sq ft store out of receivership for £6m in February and had planned a redevelopment of the site to create a £70m residential scheme. However, the group is now seeking to revise plans as the currently consent plans are “financially unviable”. Plans to deliver some 306 homes remain but Eden wants to keep the development to fewer than six storeys, avoiding making it a high-risk building under the British Safety Act. High-risk buildings need to be approved by the BSA and require a fire statement to be submitted in the pre-application planning process, adding both time and money to the project. Revisions also include reinstating historic features and a former arcade with access to a courtyard with external seating. Commercial space in the development would be broken up into smaller shops to increase letting opportunities and encourage a cafe culture along Victoria Street. In its application, Eden said: “We recognise the strong local significance the Beattie’s building has and want to ensure a positive reintroduction to the streetscape soonest to avoid any decline and instead ensure the redevelopment can pact as a catalyst for wider regeneration in Wolverhampton.”