... where we left off....

Why dont we just use the official black country thread for wolverhampton? lol

anyway....


Wolverhampton University sets out its science centre vision
Thursday 21st July 2011, 11:30AM BST.
A multi-million pound science centre complete with its own Thinktank-style museum will be created by Wolverhampton University, under plans revealed today.

The ground floor of the centre would be open to the public and feature hands-on science and technology displays similar to Birmingham’s interactive Thinktank science museum.

The rest of the building would replace the university’s existing School of Applied Sciences and be devoted to both education and research with special emphasis on its famous Brain Tumour UK Neuro-Oncology Research Centre.

Three possible sites – all between the existing north and south city centre campuses of the University – are being looked at with a final decision on the exact location for the project expected by November.

Officials said they hoped the science centre would be located near to the city’s Central Library and be built within five years. It could cost more than £10m.


Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/07/21/wolverhampton-university-sets-out-its-science-centre-vision/#ixzz1SlNyuXSG

Why dont we just use the official black country thread for wolverhampton? lol


Because Wolverhampton isn't officially in the Black Country. :blahblah: ;)

First look inside new bus station

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WD4055566@STATION-01-TT-22.jpg


It has taken 15 months to complete and brought disruption to the city centre, but the city’s new £22.5 million bus station is finally here.

The inside of the new station was finally revealed today ahead of it welcoming its first bus on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/07/22/first-look-inside-new-bus-station/#ixzz1SrsquvzN

Nice yeah?

More...

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bus3.jpg

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bus2.jpg

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bus4.jpg

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bus.jpg

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/07/23/wolverhampton-bus-station-ready-for-first-passengers/bus-6/#midbar

looks nice, i notice a lack of seating though :-s

"bus" and "live timetable" is a bit of an oxymoron.

Looks very good a lot better than the old bus station.
Let's hope they get some funding for phase 2. The railway station desperately needs dragging out of the 1960's and into the 21st century.

I visited the bus station yesterday, and the impression I got was that people really weren't happy.

Seating does seem to be a real problem; I didn't have time to have a proper look around, but it seemed that there were just a couple of seats per bus stand (one of the big problems with the old station).

What people really seemed angry about though was the fact that a lot of buses won't actually use the station. There were a lot of people coming in, realising that they'd have to walk across the city centre to get their bus, and really laying in to the Centro reps.

The bus depot certainly looks posh, but it sounds from the above few posts that it has a fair few issues already! I hope the issues are resolved because it certainly makes that part of the city look nicer.


On an unrelated note:

Has anyone noticed how this has sprung up recently:

http://www.investstaffordshire.co.uk/uploads/asset_image/2_348.jpg

http://www.i54online.com/i54.html


It's coming along really nicely. Can't find any construction photos in my brief search, but I pass it most days and it looks as if the shell of the building is not far from complete. It will be interesting to see what i54 can do for Wolverhampton going forwards now, as the project seems to have picked up a lot of pace again since Moog signed up. With JLR lining up their options with a view to building their new engine plant on the site, this can only be good news for Wolvo, can't it?!

I experienced the new bus station for the first time on Saturday evening. The view you get when approaching the station from the ring road is very impressive.

Can he be banned?.....

indeed they can.... especially when they just spam the forum with adds for their escort agancy

I saw the new bus staion a couple of weeks ago .I was expecting something along the lines of the impressive Wednesbury and West Bromwich bus stations.However , this new station is even better; very light and airy .I think the new bridge that connects it to the train staion is a fantastic addition too .Now let's see if Wolverhampton can get funds to revamp the the railway staion .

New Billy Wright pub for Wolverhampton .

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/09/07/billy-wright-pub-is-set-to-open/

Supermarket war ends .

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/09/15/supermarket-giants-in-deal-on-wolverhampton-land/

^^

But what's happening to the exisiting Sainsbury's in the church if they're building a new one on the other side of the city centre?

I don't know about that Butterfield but I did take some Spanish friends into the St George's church and in the same afternoon we went into the converted church in Walsall by the bus station and they were pleasantly shocked .:)

Transport Minister officially opens the bus station .

http://centro.journalistpresslounge.com/centro/news/index.cfm/fuseaction/details/id/9072E926-BECD-CFCE-D55DF70F61EE0678/cnt/1/ref/main/type/News%20Releases/ses/1.cfm

From egi.

Wolves unveils £50m plans for training campus
Nick Whitten 12/10/2011 10:35

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has submitted plans for a £50m redevelopment of its training campus.

The application to Wolverhampton City Council has been lodged jointly by Wolves, the University of Wolverhampton, Inspire and Redrow Homes.

It will see an indoor pitch and expansion of the football academy at Wolves' training ground, made possible by the relocation of St Edmund's Catholic School onto adjoining land owned by the University of Wolverhampton.

In turn, the university will sell the balance of its site to Redrow Homes to build 55 houses in order to cross-fund the school.

The sale of the university's land will then contribute towards its own investment plans in a new science facility on its City Centre campus.

Turley Associates is handling the planning application, for which a decision is expected in early November.

Tesco perfect medicine for Wolverhampton
Lisa Pilkington 12/10/2011 12:24

Tesco has won consent to redevelop Wolverhampton's Royal Hospital into a 139,800 sq ft supermarket.

The £50m project will see the historic 1849-built hospital transformed into a scheme that will re-use and update the main hospital building.

Jonathan Simpson, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: "The approval brings an end to the 14 years of uncertainty for the Royal Hospital building and means that Tesco can now begin delivering another successful bespoke mixed-use town centre that will not only revitalise the Royal Hospital site, but also the wider All Saints area."

The supermarket is designed within the context of a wider masterplan that would deliver residential-led mixed-use space on the remainder of the site, with 25% of the new housing being affordable housing.

Subject to consent, Tesco hopes to have the store open by Christmas 2012.

Tesco renders:
http://new.egi.co.uk/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=46520
http://new.egi.co.uk/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=46521

What is it with Wolverhampton and converting historic buildings into supermarkets? :D

In general I don't like supermarket-led developments but here it is doing this building a great favour; I thought its days were numbered .If I remember correctly,when the Metro stations were chosen ,The Royal stop was placed to provide passengers with access to the hospital .Of course , the hospital was eventually closed , leaving the stop with a very low patronage .This project might revive its fortunes .:)

Actually getting 3 Supermarkets...

Wolverhampton to get three new stores to spark jobs boost
Wednesday 12th October 2011, 5:30PM BST.



Three new multi-million pound supermarkets will be built in Wolverhampton, creating 1,339 jobs and finally bringing a close to the city’s longest-running planning wrangle.

Sainsbury’s and Tesco have both won the right to create new stores in the city, while permission has also been granted for another.

The decision puts an end to an 11-year battle between the store giants over the right to build on land at Raglan Street, in Chapel Ash.

During yesterday’s meeting of Wolverhampton City Council’s planning committee, Tesco exchanged contracts with its rival and handed over its share of land after more than a decade of rows and court battles.

Wolverhampton City Council had initially favoured Tesco to build on the site, even though it owned only a 10 per cent share compared to Sainsbury’s 86 per cent.
Hospital

The authority’s decision was partly influenced by Tesco’s vow to use the separate Royal Hospital site for houses and offices.

But Sainsbury’s objected and Supreme Court judges finally voted in its favour last year. Tesco went back to the drawing board and came up with plans to create its own supermarket at the Royal Hospital site and agreed it would sell its share of Raglan Street if permission for the scheme was granted, which it was last night.

Owners of the Peel Centre in Stafford Street also yesterday won permission for a supermarket and are in talks with Morrisons.



Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/10/12/wolverhampton-to-get-three-new-stores-to-spark-jobs-boost/#ixzz1ab4yc31m

View from Lower Penn.

(obtrusive pylon edited out)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Wolverhampton-2.jpg

A new tallest structure for Wolverhampton. :D

http://www.greenpower54.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/GP54_artists_impression.jpg

Power plant to create 70 jobs

Seventy jobs will be created under plans unveiled today for a £120 million landmark plant in Wolverhampton that will power 47,500 homes.

The energy plant, known as Greenpower 54, is being lined up for land next to the i54 business park, and includes a 328ft tall chimney visible from the M54 motorway and A449 Stafford Road.

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/i54.jpg

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/11/03/power-plant-to-create-70-jobs/#ixzz1cgU4hy1g

Key features will ensure that the facility is sustainable, modern and meets the highest standards. These include:

•An enclosed fuel preparation and recycling building that we estimate will be approximately 18 metres high.
•A storage area for recovered wood.
•A structure to host the turbine of approximately 20 metres in height.
•A building containing the boiler that we estimate will be approximately 40 metres high.
•A chimney stack that we estimate will be between 80 metres and 100 metres high.
•A control room.
•An office and visitor centre that will offer a unique experience of the facility and the wider environment.

http://www.greenpower54.co.uk/our-proposals/

I guess that's good new jobs-wise but I rarely venture into that part of Wolverhampton so I won't get to see it much - or any of the other stuff that's being built by the M54 - unless this chimney will be visible from miles around.

The article doesn't say when it's due to be completed. :?

12 November 2011 Last updated at 09:36 Share this pageEmailPrint
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Wolverhampton 'investment' plans go on display
Businesses and residents of Wolverhampton are being invited to have their say on proposals to "revitalise" the city.

The plans intend to attract more investment in retail, office space, housing and leisure in the city centre.

People can give their views before the plans are developed into a City Centre Prospectus, which will be used to market the city to potential investors.

The plans are at the Wulfrun Centre on Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 GMT.

They will also be at the Wolverhampton City Centre Indoor Market from 22 November from 10:00 to 13:00 GMT.

In October, up to 50 developers and business leaders welcomed plans to improve the existing shopping centre and develop family leisure facilities such as a cinema, bowling alley and food restaurant chains.

The draft plans seek to show how the city centre might be shaped and developed over the next 20 years.

The cabinet member for economic regeneration and prosperity, Councillor Peter Bilson, said: "Following the positive feedback from developers, the council is now keen to seek the views of the public and other stakeholders for plans which we want to be both ambitious and deliverable."

The plans can also be viewed on the Wolverhampton City Council website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15696964

Here's some photo's of the bus station in case no one has seen it yet (like me!) and it actually looks warm and useful unlike West Bromwich.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6724969031_9ce198bf71_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6724968563_965728e546_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6724968059_6c4252011e_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6724966923_43c66be7d9_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6724966257_acba4f5ef2_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6724965723_921f2ff8b5_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6724965629_e987d58218_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6724965533_75576be524_b.jpg

Centro Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/centro-nwm/).

Thanks for posting the photos .I was impresed by Wolverhampton's bus station on my first visit and the new bridge linking it to the railway sation is a great addition too.As someone who uses West Bromwich's bus station,I would say that it serves its purpose extremely well ;it is appreciated by its passengers,and has the added bonus of its links to the Metro station.Wednesbury's new bus station has also proved very popular with bus users .:)

No worries, I worded what I said about West Brom wrong, its a good bus station as in how it works, but the way its been build is that the wind from outside can still get in through the huge gaps left at the bottom of the windows, therefore its forever cold in there, unlike Wolvo.

I've got to admit the new bridge does look good

Does anyone know anything about this? Is it still on the cards? has it been scrapped or what? It looks brilliant

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/47273000/jpg/_47273492_artblockviewcopy.jpg

more pics below
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/blackcountry/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8508000/8508022.stm

New to me sefton.

^^ cheers Simon was posted back in Feb 2010 but I cant find anymore on it, I hope it still on the cards it looks great, this is from the designers page on it...

Wolverhampton Bridge Project
Bridges & Regeneration
Landmark regeneration and pedestrian footbridge in Wolverhampton.

A regeneration project based around a high profile pedestrian footbridge reconnecting the city centre to the increasingly important northern quadrant of the city, currently separated by a 1960's inner ring road. The bridge concept has attracted considerable interest from the business, academic and sporting sectors in the city, with support from the City Council, the University of Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.

The project has now reached the feasibility stage.
http://www.johnsonltd.co.uk/component/option,com_image_gallery/id,46/

http://www.johnsonltd.co.uk/components/com_image_gallery/get_image.php?f=205.jpg&x=429&y=377

http://www.johnsonltd.co.uk/components/com_image_gallery/get_image.php?f=206.jpg&x=429&y=377?57

http://www.johnsonltd.co.uk/components/com_image_gallery/get_image.php?f=196.jpg&x=429&y=377?19

To say it was first announce in 2010 and again now, I'm guessing they are very serious.

Some nice aerial photos from Martin Hanley on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29432635@N08/with/6924022819/

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6924022819_ecfacc850c_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6924022791_c84f3c86b4_b.jpg

stunning photos!

I'd like to see a similar aerial photo to that but BEFORE the ring road was built.

As a child I remember having to go through Wolverhampton (what was then) town centre to get to Wednesfield but the eastern part of the ring road seemed to just appear without me realising and we never drove through the town centre again. It would be interesting to see what buildings had to get demolished to make way for it.

Huge blaze in Wolverhampton
Wednesday 29th February 2012, 11:58AM GMT.

Carvers Building Supplies in Wolverhampton was on fire this afternoon – sending enormous plumes of smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen for miles around.

More than 40 firefighters were tackling the flames at the site in Littles Lane.

Emergency crews were called at 11.43am. Surrounding roads were sealed off, and ambulance crews were in attendance although it is not yet known if anyone has been hurt.

The train station and ring road were shut as fire crews dealt with the fire.

Nicky Butler, Express & Star video journalist, tweeted: “Just spoke to a distraught Henry Carver watching his life’s work burn to the ground.”

Peter Ray, aged 61, a contractor for Grange Fencing Ltd was working at Carvers, which was established in 1896, setting up a display when he heard the fire alarm sound at 11.30am.

He said: “We heard the alarm, we didn’t know what it was at first and then somebody came out, they said there was a fire and everybody had to get out.

“I wasn’t worried at all but we had to get out pretty quick.”

Mr Ray said he believed the fire involved a furnace inside the factory building.

More to follow

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/02/29/huge-blaze-at-carvers-building-supplies-in-wolverhampton/#ixzz1nmAHg3nQ

https://p.twimg.com/Am0hqmcCQAAJHLu.jpg:large

^^

That's a bit of an epic picture. :eek:

Another off facebook.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426282_10150710762524359_605254358_11352668_816146095_n.jpg

Tesco renders:
http://new.egi.co.uk/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=46520
http://new.egi.co.uk/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=46521

Inspired by this I had a nose round the other day... to save me re-posting the pics here's a link and the blurb I learnt...

http://www.midlandsheritage.co.uk/hospitals-asylums/7748-royal-hospital-wolverhampton.html

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/02/29/huge-blaze-at-carvers-building-supplies-in-wolverhampton/#ixzz1nmAHg3nQ

https://p.twimg.com/Am0hqmcCQAAJHLu.jpg:large

Apparently, at one stage they were on about setting up a two or three mile exclusion zone..

From E&S.

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/195847861.jpg

Can anyone advise me how to post photographs as attachments? Forum rules prohibit me from doing so. I thought that was the whole purpose???

You'll have to upload them to a site like Flickr then paste the BB code:)

Listed Scala cinema frontage demolished.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/10/21/wolverhamptons-scala-cinema-frontage-to-be-bulldozed-at-last/

The council posted it on Facebook but deleted it after getting ~100 negative comments!

Skyline from July 2008.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Skyline33.jpg

Almost 4 years later.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Skyline50.jpg

Shame about the tree blocking the new Molineux and other buildings. :(

From today's chronicle,

Next step of the Wolverhampton Interchange. Four shop/restaurant units to be created opposite the bus station entrance, with office space for 100 workers above it.

Fox Hotel Demolition

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbvuvGxD8rY

Replacement is an extended, but properly tarmaced, car park, while a deal is done for a new use on the land.

Initially proposed was a Hilton hotel:

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/WD3755200@HILTON-HOTEL-ART.jpg

Pipe Hall, Bilston - Auction

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/04/24/sports-club-murder-site-to-go-under-the-hammer/

Pipe Hall, Bilston, is up for auction at only £94,000. Grade II listed.

Article on the hall:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/listed/bilstonpipe.htm

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/listed/photos/bilstonpipehall.jpg

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/staffordshire/pics/bilston_pipehall.jpg
http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/staffordshire/bilston_pipehall.html

(Incidentally it's Pipe Hall, named after the Pipe family, not "The Pipe Hall" as oft quoted)

Bellway Homes want to knock down Springfield Cottage, Fordhouses Wolverhampton to build a four bedroom house. Such a lovely place, it was a working farm until they started this development, we used to play there as kids (the farmer let us play in the conker trees at the back. Had a tyre swing and everything.) Was sad to see the cricket field go, but the cottage? That would be terrible.

They didn't even do enough research to realise every street in the area is named after a racecourse. They've named that bastard "oval drive".

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/04/24/fight-over-historic-cottage-demolition-plans/

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20803641.jpg


Pipe Hall, Bilston

Pipe Hall is up for auction - for £94,000. That's incredibly cheap for what is there.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/04/24/sports-club-murder-site-to-go-under-the-hammer/

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/listed/bilstonpipe.htm

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/staffordshire/pics/bilston_pipehall.jpg

Hi, dies anybody know what is happening with the drill hall? It's being refurbished inside and out for something.

Rumours on Facebook that the varsity is closing to become a reception for the university. I doubt varsity will pull out of the city - they started here iirc - maybe they'd move into the drill hall?

Can anyone confirm either?

^^
University bid for Wolverhampton’s Varsity pub
Tuesday 8th May 2012, 5:00PM BST.



A landmark city centre pub would be taken over by the University of Wolverhampton and turned into a grand reception area, under new plans being drawn up.

Talks are currently ongoing to transform The Varsity from a popular live music venue into a new entrance for the university. It is not known when the pub will close.

However, the owners of the venue in Stafford Street have confirmed it is on the market.

The pub is separated from the university’s MA building by an alleyway.

John Nightingale, from the Wolverhampton branch of Campaign for Real Ale, said it would be a “great pity” to lose another bar in the city centre.

Last year, Barracuda postponed a planned £150,000 refurbishment of the bar despite it being granted a licence to open an extra hour until 2.30am.

Then, the company had said it was looking to make the venue more appealing to people in their 30s and 40s.

Barracuda was fined £25,000 earlier this year after the Varsity, which is popular with students, was forced to close its kitchen because of a rat infestation.

Mr Nightingale said: “The Varsity has always been a young person’s bar and there is a place for that in Wolverhampton.”

But Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council’s cabinet member for skills and learning, said: “It’s always good to hear that a building won’t stand empty. I’m glad the university is interested in buying the building.”

University spokesman James Allen today would not confirm or deny if the university was in talks with Barracuda but bar staff at The Varsity said discussions were ongoing.

Wolverhampton has lost some of its biggest venues over the past few years. In March, nightclub Oceana closed its doors. And in May 2009, Sopranos restaurant shut down.



Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/05/08/university-bid-for-wolverhamptons-varsity-pub/#ixzz1uUxUQwvh

A couple of photos showing the inside of a new luxury student accomodation block in Wolverhampton.

Complete with a gym, football pitches, basketball courts, allotments, etc...

Cheapest rates in town too. All you have to do is mug someone.

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/jail3.jpg

http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/jail1.jpg

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/05/19/through-keyhole-of-midlands-200m-new-superprison/

New nightclub opens 1st June in Wolverhampton. No idea what or any of the details, but presumably it's Oceana reopening as a new brand, since that's where I got it from. (Facebook, Save Oceana Wolverhampton)