People will have another opportunity to speak to planners and help shape a new plan to transform Wolverhampton City Centre, at drop in sessions next week.

The Wolverhampton City Centre Area Action Plan (AAP) will outline what the area should look like by 2026 and what needs to happen to achieve this.

Public consultation on the planning issues and options facing the city centre has been underway since December.

Drop in sessions held before Christmas saw more than 100 people attending to speak to planners and give their views.

Further drop in sessions are being held next week.

Planning officers from the council will be in the Wulfrun Shopping Centre (next door to The Entertainer store) from Tuesday 7 January to Thursday 9 January from 10am to 4pm each day, and again on Saturday 11 January from 10am to 2pm. People can pop in, find out more about the AAP and give their views.

The AAP, which is being produced by Wolverhampton City Council in partnership with residents, businesses and stakeholders, will help to influence decisions on planning applications, jobs, the environment, shopping, transport and community facilities.

The AAP also covers areas outside of the city centre ring road, extending towards Molineux Stadium, the railway station, West Park, Chapel Ash and parts of Graiseley, Blakenhall and All Saints.

This plan is part of the authority's wider commitment to regenerate the city, create job opportunities and attract investment.

Work is already taking place to help bring forward regeneration of the city centre following the launch of the City Centre Prospectus in 2012.

Sainsbury's and Tesco are currently on site developing their new stores at Raglan Street and at the former Royal Hospital. A £5 million scheme to improve the movement of traffic and enhance the public realm is currently underway and will continue next year.

Plans have been approved for a new £6 million Youth Zone in the Westside area of the city with construction due to start next year and plans have now been submitted for a new £10.6 million mixed office and retail building situated next to the bus and railway station at the Interchange.

A £45 million redevelopment scheme is underway at the University's City Centre campus to create a new science facility, scheduled to be completed by December 2014, and plans for a new Business School to be completed by May 2015 have been given the go ahead with construction due to start early next year.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, said: "Major developments are coming forward and we want to continue this momentum and build on this success by putting in place a fit for purpose plan for the city centre.

"The AAP will be an exciting plan which will support and guide the transformation of the city centre over the coming years and the support of the community in the planning process is key to Wolverhampton's future.

"Therefore we are encouraging all residents, businesses and other interested parties to take part in the consultation."

As well as the drop in sessions, people can view the consultation at Type=articles;Articleid=2454;Title=Area Action Plans (AAPs); and give their views by completing the response form. The closing date for comments is Friday, 31 January, 2014.

People can also contact the planning team via email at planning@wolverhampton.gov.uk or by telephone on 01902 555639.

Views will be collated and will help to shape production of the draft plan in 2014.

Following further consultation on the draft plan later in 2014, the AAP will be published and submitted to the Government in 2015. The city council aims to adopt the final plan by the end of 2015.

  • released: Friday 3 January, 2014