Latest News - Press Release
LIFT-OFF FOR WALSALL WATERFRONT - 24 February '05
An ambitious £180 million flagship regeneration project at the heart of the Black Country reached a major milestone today when regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, Urban Splash, and Walsall Council signed contracts to enable the start of works for the first phase of Walsall Waterfront.
Over the next 12 years, the project will transform 17 acres of vacant and derelict canalside brownfield land near the town centre into a thriving, high quality mixed-use development.
Today Urban Splash announced it had appointed Alsop Design Limited to prepare proposals for the first new building on the site – and had also invited several architects to take part in a design competition for the remodeling of the Wharfinger’s Cottage.
The Waterfront scheme is expected to deliver around 600 new jobs, 660 new homes and provide a mix of offices, bars and restaurants, leisure facilities and high quality public space, including new canal bridges and inlets.
The project is jointly promoted by Advantage West Midlands, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and the Walsall Regeneration Company. Advantage West Midlands has already started essential remediation works on site.
John Edwards, Chief Executive at Advantage West Midlands, said: “Things will never be the same in Walsall – Waterfront is a clear signal that things are changing for the better.
“Transformation of urban areas into places where people want to live and work is one of our priorities.
“The site is in a prime location, close to the town centre, and the Agency had the vision to acquire the land and make it ready for a high-quality development that will bring a better quality of life to the people of Walsall.
“As the Waterfront project develops over the next decade, communities will benefit from some of the feel-good factors of regeneration: pride in a thriving and modern town centre and businesses enjoying growth, new investment and new jobs.”
Tom Bloxham MBE, chairman of Urban Splash, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for both Urban Splash and Walsall.
“In the same way that Urban Splash has helped to reinvigorate cities like Manchester and Liverpool, we are incredibly excited by this chance to create a whole new quarter of Walsall by building on the town’s strengths, the canal, the art gallery and the site’s close proximity to the town centre.
“We expect to submit a planning application in the next 12 months showing how a great design for a mix of uses will create a new, world-class Waterfront for Walsall.”
Tom Ansell, Leader of Walsall Council, said: “Waterfront will be a tremendously exciting destination that will put Walsall on the map – a stunning landmark, creating places for people to live, restaurants, bars, leisure facilities and jobs for our citizens.
“Walsall Council has played a key role in bringing this re-development project to life and we are working hard with our regeneration partners to deliver the first phase of this ground-breaking project. I’m tremendously proud of the council’s work on this.
“Waterfront will give us another reason to feel proud of our borough and provide further encouragement for business people to continue investing in Walsall.”
Ben Reid, Chairman of Walsall Regeneration Company, said: “Canals have been a feature of Walsall for more than 200 years, helping to fire the Industrial Revolution by enabling coal and other raw materials to be transported cheaply.
“Waterfront will fuel a new revolution in Walsall. Its focus on high quality urban design is exactly the sort of inspirational thinking that will transform the town and its economy, and bring a better quality of life and a new confidence to the people of Walsall.
“Walsall Regeneration Company’s strategy envisages £600 million of public and private sector investment over the next ten to 15 years. Waterfront is an important first step on the road to Walsall’s renaissance.”
- Ends -
Notes to editors
Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England whose role is to provide leadership and action to create more, better jobs and an improved quality of life for all in the West Midlands.
Urban Splash has established itself as a pioneer of regeneration and an advocate of modern design. The company has received 124 awards to date for design, architecture, regeneration and enterprise. Its award winning projects include Timber Wharf, Box Works, Britannia Mills and Smithfield Buildings at Manchester and the Collegiate, Match Works, Tea Factory and Concert Square at Liverpool. Urban Splash is growing from its north-west base and has schemes in development at Bradford, Leeds Sheffield, Birmingham, Plymouth and Bristol as well as Manchester, Liverpool and Morecambe.
For more media information or images please contact:
Phil Brown, PR Executive, at Advantage West Midlands on 0121 503 3402
philbrown@advantagewm.co.uk
Lisa Ashurst, Communications Manager, Urban Splash, 0161 839 2999
lisaashurst@urbansplash.co.uk
Nigel Pipkin
Seal Communications
Tel: 0121 200 0780
Fax: 0121 200 0781
Email: nigelpipkin@sealcommunications.co.uk