The first phase of works to revamp Wolverhampton city centre will get underway next week.

Footpath and road resurfacing will be carried out in Cleveland Street and Queen Street, representing the start of the £5 million planned transportation and environmental improvement scheme.

The programme is aimed at creating a vibrant, welcoming and accessible city centre featuring increased pedestrian facilities, additional event space and scope to accommodate street cafes.

The work will start on October 28 and will continue until the end of November 2013, before work is closed down for the busy Christmas period.

It will be resumed in early January and this phase of the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of April.

Throughout this period, access to all businesses on both roads will be maintained.

Centro has confirmed that bus stops that currently use Queen Street will be relocated during the duration of this work.

The revised stopping places for services are:

*National Express West Midlands service 59 will stop at AU in Princess Street

*West Midlands Special Needs Transport service 61 will stop at AT in Princess Street

*All Banga services 26, 530, 535, 545 and 634 will use the new stop AX in Tower Street.

These works have been developed to support the wider regeneration vision that was set out in the Wolverhampton City Centre Prospectus, launched in July last year.

The Prospectus, developed after consulting with the private sector, set out a blueprint for the future and outlined ambitious but achievable plans that would see high order shops, a new urban park, more leisure facilities, high grade offices and around 1,300 homes being created in the city centre.

The start of this work comes just weeks after the authority announced plans to invest £10.6 million to develop 50,000 square feet of high quality offices and brand new retail space at the Interchange in the city centre.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, said: "I am delighted that these works will now get underway.

"We want to create a transformed city centre that will be welcoming, family friendly and attract investment in top quality retail, leisure and cultural facilities.

"These improvements are part of our wider plans to regenerate Wolverhampton city centre, and were put together following consultation with developers and key stakeholders.

"But, to attract inward investment, the authority must also demonstrate our confidence in our city and that is what these works demonstrate."

  • released: Friday  25 October, 2013