Step forward for brownfield site regeneration proposals

A vision to transform a brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a neighbourhood of hundreds of homes and community spaces has taken a step forward.A report – which was considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet on 13 December – recommended that Capital&Centric be appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for a former Sainsbury’s supermarket site.Cabinet approved the appointment, though the official appointment process has yet to happen.The first step in the plan will be to develop a masterplan for the five-acre St George’s site, with early ideas including homes, community spaces and green streets, and the repurposing of the grade II-listed church as a community centrepiece. Shops, workspaces and café bars would complete the line-up.If appointed, the developer will work up a detailed vision as to how the strategic site could become a “destination district” for Wolverhampton, with the potential for more than 400 homes.Prior to the cabinet meeting, John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “St George’s is a worthy headliner among the line-up of major opportunities in Wolverhampton and fits perfectly with what we’re about – delivering eclectic neighbourhoods that mix the old and new.”It has bags of potential and we’re already brimming with ideas of how we could deliver new city centre homes alongside community hangout spaces and loads of much-needed greenery.”We can’t wait to write the next chapter for the stunning St George’s church, creating a new centrepiece around which the community will revolve.”St George’s was one of a trio of development opportunities, featured in the Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus, launched by the council at MIPIM earlier this year.City of Wolverhampton Council leader, councillor Stephen Simkins, added: “Ambitious plans and investment as part of a wider strategy are driving the regeneration of our city centre, The Halls Wolverhampton, our award-winning £150m transport interchange and grade-A office developments, are testament to that.”The St George’s opportunity sits at the heart of this, well connected to commercial and leisure hubs, which is a priority as we transform our city centre to generate jobs, homes and growth.”If the recommendations are approved by cabinet it will enable the council to develop an outline business case that will establish this site as a new gateway into the city centre.”St George’s can provide an inclusive, safe and sustainable new quarter that will generate new opportunities and jobs, bring underutilised assets back into community use and, importantly, deliver much-needed new homes in Wolverhampton city centre, which will bring wider social and economic benefits.”