Type=image;ImageID=4937;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Interchange 10;TitleClass=strong;
Greene King will open a Hungry Horse family friendly pub restaurant on the ground floor of Interchange 10, which will be based at the Wolverhampton Interchange next to the bus and railway stations.
Negotiations are also advanced with 2 other businesses interested in moving into Interchange 10.
Greene King is the first company on board for this scheme, which will create new jobs and attract further investment into the city.
The company has now submitted applications to Wolverhampton City Council for Premises Licence and a Table and Chairs Licence and this will be determined later this month.
In September last year the council announced a total investment of £10.6 million in the area, including constructing Interchange 10 in order to provide new Grade A offices and associated retail/leisure floor space in the city centre.
This investment has also seen the authority acquire the leases for the neighbouring Victoria Square and Queen's Building, and convert unoccupied first floor space into a quality office development.
As well as encouraging more investment and boosting prosperity to the city, the scheme will also help transform a key gateway to the city centre.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, said: "This is excellent news that demonstrates the confidence in this significant scheme.
"We have had a great deal of interest in Interchange 10 from a number of different companies and I am delighted to welcome Greene King as our first tenant prior to construction commencing.
"We look forward to making more announcements in the coming weeks."
Rob Mason, Development Director at Neptune Developments said: "This major new letting, coupled Sainsbury and Costa Coffee who have already become established in the scheme, demonstrates that Interchange will provide a successful office, leisure and retail quarter for the City"
Matt Brown, business unit director for Hungry Horse, said: "It is always exciting when we build a new pub, and we are particularly looking forward to being an integral part of this new development, an ideal location for our family friendly pub.
"Hungry Horse pubs are known for serving a wide choice of food and drink at outstanding prices, in modern and comfortable surroundings.
"It's good news all round for Wolverhampton as the new pub will create around 50 full and part time local jobs."
Construction work on Interchange 10 is set to get underway shortly and it is anticipated that the work will be completed in November next year.
Interchange 10 forms part of the wider Interchange scheme, aimed at creating an enhanced transport infrastructure for Wolverhampton, creating more than 1,000 jobs and attracting major inward investment.
The first phase, comprising of the new bus station, access improvements to the railway station, the creation of the Victoria Square and Queens Building was completed in 2012.
As part of a comprehensive approach to delivering the Interchange master plan, the council and Neptune, working with Centro, Network Rail, Virgin Trains and the Canal & River Trust, are also finalising proposals to redevelop the railway station, and a refurbish and extend the existing multi storey car park and extend the existing Metro line to the new station.
The Interchange scheme was boosted last month by £4.5 million Government 'Growth Deal' funding through the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, which means more than £13 million has been secured towards the project.
- released: Thursday 14 August, 2014