Wolverhampton: ready for reinvention
Tom Hewitt shares his views on the regeneration of the city of Wolverhampton.
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More than 60% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities by 2030. In the UK where urbanisation is higher than the worldwide average, cities need to adapt as they face the realisation of pressing climate change, population surges and health and social outcomes.
Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands is the perfect example of a post-industrial, post retail city striving to reinvent and redefine itself as a place that caters for its large and diverse community.
Proof of Wolverhampton’s transformation is in the level of development being proposed. And commercial statistics from the council cite the potential for business or employment growth, investment and population trends. In 2023, the city experienced significant growth, with employment rising to 70.3% with a total GDHI growing by £283 million since 2021. Average house prices and private rents also increased by 6.0% and 11.3%, respectively, over the last 12 months.
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On the face of it there is a very positive story emerging, some of which is owed to the approach of the council with a significant contribution from the West Midlands Combined Authority. The logic of a united approach to address the West Midlands’ region’s common issues, with businesses and communities working together, is profound.
We can see that Wolverhampton is striding forward towards a bright new future but what are the key characteristics which will drive recognition that the city is working for is citizens?
BDP’s global initiative ‘The Good City’ sets out the fundamental urban design ideas that a city or town should comprise to generate a cohesive and integrated community. Ten specific characteristics are defined, ranging from ‘quality of life’ and ‘getting around’ to ‘resilience’. All of which are particularly relevant to the growth of Wolverhampton.
Cities like Wolverhampton have always been centres of economic growth, they came into existence as places of trade and commerce and their large, diverse populations inspired innovation and creativity. Because of this, the greatest economic asset of a city is its people. The cities able to retain and attract the brightest and best people will be the most attractive to companies, become the most innovative and will generate a virtuous circle of growth. As with many West Midland cities, Wolverhampton has been through cycles of growth and decline, and a test of its resilience will be how it deals with the multitude of modern challenges it faces.
We believe that the best test of resilience in a city is how you define is as ‘a place of work’, especially in a post-pandemic world. The nature of workspaces are changing as people continue to split their time between the office and working from home.
For Wolverhampton to maintain its vital economic role, it must adapt and evolve to become a place of employment and prosperity. This means embracing urban regeneration to renew districts, introduce new uses, and make them attractive places to live and work. We know that Wolverhampton is a top ten growing economy in the UK. The city's central location and strong connectivity make it attractive to businesses, including Jaguar Land Rover, Marstons, Moog and UTC Aerospace, which all occupy out-of-town locations.
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So, the city centre needs to shift from a traditional retail hub to include mixed-use spaces that combine housing, leisure, and last-mile logistics to cater for a growing workforce. Office buildings must be reimagined to support hybrid working, wellbeing, and collaboration, ensuring they remain economic anchors. Meanwhile, inner city SciTech developments can be considered to create innovation, attract talent, and drive even more employment, transforming Wolverhampton into a forward-thinking, contemporary city.
Since the WMCA launched its ‘Prospectus’ last year, we know there are multiple projects and investment opportunities in and around Wolverhampton, that are transforming the look and feel of its places and advancing investment and growth opportunities.
Muse Places has taken over the long-stalled Westside development and Capital & Centric has agreed to bring forward the St George site. The long-awaited transformation of the old Beatties Store (HoF) has finally been acquired by Eden Group and will hopefully bring forward the 400 homes consented for the site. Community-focused residential developer Wavensmere is also delivering the substantial Canalside scheme, capitalising on the city’s heritage and breathing life into the railway arches.
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Additionally, the Mander Centre, a perennial blockage at the heart of the city has been acquired by APAM with a consolidation and diversification strategy, and the Civic Hall has been refurbished and reopened as ‘The Halls’, an iconic Grade II listed space, with a rich and varied musical history.
The significant presence of the University in redeveloping the former Springfield Brewery site including the Brownfield Regeneration Centre is also highly relevant given the west midlands region’s industrial legacy. And there are further initiatives between the city and university that are supporting new industries associated with research and development and sustainable technologies, as part of the Green Innovation Corridor.
Concurrently, the council itself has invested in the quality of the public realm with well received enhancements and pedestrianisations of the surrounding streets, ably assisted by the likes of regeneration experts like Rivington Hark and Arcadis.
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All of this goes to prove that the city has what it takes to transform. Using heritage and history as the catalyst, the city is poised for change. As former resident and author Caitlin Moran, says: “If I’d learnt about Wolverhampton’s heritage, I might have stayed. A place where Oscar Wilde once stood and had some opiated fantasy about wallpaper. Who knew?”
So, there is real momentum, building on the history of the city and a decade of work to enhance the city’s arrival experience and revitalise the corridor from the upgraded railway station. Alongside this, strategic planning and more open conversations about development have laid the groundwork for meaningful development. Viewed through the lens of The Good City and its principles, the current wave of projects and initiatives offers genuine cause for optimism in a way that promises a brighter future. In fact, you might say that Wolverhampton can be used as the testing bed for future regeneration and the much-needed reinvention of the UK’s cities. Wolverhampton is ready to lead the way.
Further Reading
The Good City
What makes a Good City? Explore the solutions to some of the most critical urban challenges facing cities today.