Urban & Civic has won preferred developer status to partner Wolverhampton City Council’s £55m leisure-led Westside development in the heart of the West Midlands’ city.
The firm has landed a six-month exclusivity period on the 6.4-acre site, which comprises three adjacent parcels of land in the freehold ownership of the council.
U&C will now further develop its proposals to deliver a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, hotel, multi-storey car park, flats, and public realm, in two phases over five years.
Speaking an event at the Houses of Parliament showcasing the city of Wolverhampton, John Reynolds, cabinet member for city economy, said: “A list of 11 submissions was initially reduced to five before the final pair was selected – and Urban & Civic stood out as the clear winner.”
Construction on phase one of the project is due to start in early 2018 and complete by early 2020. It comprises land between Penn Road Island and Salop Street, including the current School Street and Peel Street car parks and the area around Market Square.
Phase two includes parts of land between Salop Street and Darlington Street, including the Fold Street car park. Works on this section of the development are likely to be completed in 2022.
The council first launched a search for a development partner to bring forward the new central quarter in December 2012. Since then, plans have changed and an office element has been dropped.
Wolverhampton has £3.7bn of investment either on site or in the pipeline.
Bruton Knowles and JLL advised the council.
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