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The planning application has been submitted by lead developers Neptune Developments and Wolverhampton City Council, and will see a new 520 space car park, cycle and motorcycle park and 18 birth taxi rank built as an extension to the existing multi storey and the creation of a brand new entrance off Mill Street.
The existing frontage on Railway Drive will be improved as an interim measure with the current red steelwork repainted and the existing entrance and egress will be closed up. The medium term ambition is to build a new hotel on the land between Railway Drive and the car park which would effectively wrap around the existing frontage, creating a completely new view and a modern looking gateway to the new railway station.
These car park plans pave the way for the submission of the next stage of the wider Interchange scheme for a brand new railway station in the New Year.
Neptune Developments Managing Director Steve Parry said: "This is an important element within the overall Interchange scheme and the vision for a modern state of the art transport hub in Wolverhampton City Centre. The facilities for both car drivers and cyclists are being extended and improved with a high quality design in keeping with the aspirations that we have set for the overall project."
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration & Prosperity said: "The Interchange is a main gateway to the city centre and is a regionally strategic regeneration priority. A bigger, new look car park will be the next stage in creating a truly integrated transport hub."
The new facility has been designed by ASL architects. Lead architect Richard Cronin said: "The brief was not only to provide much needed additional car parking space in the city centre, but also provide an attractive modern building that enhances this important gateway site.
"This is the place where many people arrive in Wolverhampton and we to need create the best possible first impression. We have looked at similar projects elsewhere in the UK and internationally to achieve the highest design standards and create the best possible passenger environment in terms of quality, safety and accessibility.
"This is very much a piece in a bigger and emerging scheme, but is reflecting the values that underpin the Interchange vision."
The car park is the next phase in the Interchange master plan which will see over £100million of public and private investment and comprise a state of the art integrated transport hub along with over 300,000 sq ft of commercial floor space.
As part of a comprehensive approach to delivering the Interchange masterplan, the council and Neptune, working with Centro, Network Rail, Virgin Trains and the Canal & River Trust, are finalising proposals to redevelop the railway station and extend the existing Metro line to the new station.
The application to extend and refurbish the car park demonstrates commitment from the partners to deliver the wider project with plans for the new railway station on course to be revealed in the New Year.
- released: Monday 10 November, 2014