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The next phase of the wider Wolverhampton Interchange project to create an international quality regional transport gateway in Wolverhampton City Centre, lead developers Neptune Developments and Wolverhampton City Council are adding an additional 520 parking spaces to take the overall capacity to more than 900. Parking for cycles, motorcycles and taxis will also be provided as part of the extension to the existing multi storey and the creation of a brand new entrance off Cornhill.
The application, approved on 18 December, 2014 will see the existing frontage on Railway Drive improved as an interim measure with the current red steelwork repainted and a new entrance and access route developed. 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.
Cars and other vehicles will access the station from Cornhill, while Station Drive will be closed off to allow space for the Metro extension which will ultimately connect to the railway station.
The approval allows the project to move on to the next stage, which is submitting plans for a brand new railway station in the New Year.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity said: "We are delighted with this news and we can now get the wheels in motion on what is a really exciting project for the City of Wolverhampton. The current multi storey car park has been around for a long while and I am sure we all welcome the approval of these plans. This is an instrumental part of the Wolverhampton Interchange project and paves the way for further developments to bring growth, prosperity and jobs to Wolverhampton."
Neptune Developments Managing Director Steve Parry said: "This is an important element within the overall Wolverhampton Interchange scheme and the vision for a modern state of the art transport hub. 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."
These developments, using over £100million of public and private investment, will result in a state of the art integrated transport hub along with over 300,000 square feet of commercial floor space.
As part of a comprehensive approach to delivering the Wolverhampton Interchange master plan, the council and Neptune are working with Centro, Network Rail, Virgin Trains and the Canal & River Trust.
- released: Tuesday 30 December, 2014