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Regeneration Company Unveils Plans for ‘WALSALL – A TOWN FOR ENTERPRISE’ - 28th Sept 05
Walsall is being totally transformed. Between now and 2015 ambitious proposals will be delivered that will see the town centre revitalised, canalside areas reborn and acres of derelict land rejuvenated, creating jobs and a better way of life for the people of Walsall.
Walsall Regeneration Company (WRC), which brings together the talents and expertise of the public and private sectors, is spearheading and managing the renaissance.
Today (Wednesday, 28 September) Dr Peter Cromar, the WRC chief executive, unveiled the Regeneration Framework that will restore Walsall to its rightful position as a leading Black Country town, as well as playing an important role in the economic success of the Birmingham city region.
He said: “At one time Walsall was known around the world as the ‘Leather Capital of Britain’ and in the 1950s and ‘60s Darlaston was regarded as the industrial engine of the country.
“Those days are a distant memory and Walsall’s economy needs to move from the 19th to the 21st century.
“Our vision will see the town centre become the powerhouse of the borough; a revitalised canal network with new residential communities; the development of a thriving office sector; new civic squares and public art; restaurants, café-bars and restaurants; a business & learning campus to stimulate a new generation of entrepreneurs; and the infrastructure and opportunities that will attract 21st century industries.
“All this will make the borough a more attractive place in which to live, work and do business. It will be Walsall – a town for enterprise.
"WRC’s strategy is focused on attracting more than £600 million in public and private sector investment during its lifetime, and creating 15,000 jobs. Its area of operation covers 1,926 acres within the borough.
Private sector led and driven, it is backed by a powerful partnership comprising Advantage West Midlands, English Partnerships and Walsall Council.
The strategic framework includes eight major transformational regeneration projects, some of which are already well underway.
Darlaston - High quality logistics operations and state-of-the-art distribution centres on a huge site straddling the M6. The scheme has the potential to create between 2,500 and 4,500 jobs over two phases.
Waterfront – The ambitious £180 million-plus flagship regeneration project that will create a new ‘quarter’ on 17 acres of currently derelict land, with more than 650 designer homes, ‘green’ offices and public art alongside the canal and Town Wharf.
New Gallery Square – A vibrant, exciting new square, home to the new creative industries, with restaurants and café-bars. It could also see a new library, museum, hotel, or some combination of all three and will link with the iconic New Art Gallery and Waterfront.
Office Corridor – A series of office developments proposed for the Littleton Street/ Blue Lane corridor to meet the needs of 21st century business. A major opportunity beckons with Fujitsu soon to have a significant presence in the town.
Business, Learning and Retail Campus – A major transformational regeneration project incorporating the creation of a Business and Learning Campus anchored by the new Walsall College of Arts & Technology and including major retail investment by Tesco.
Digbeth/George Street – Substantial development and refurbishment at the southern end of High Street will provide a major focus for shoppers and ‘anchor this end of the town centre. A new ASDA ‘superstore’ is set to open on the former Sainsbury’s site, with ‘city living’ apartment schemes with ground floor niche shopping proposed for both sides of George Street.
Bradford Place – A major re-modelling incorporating upgraded bus facilities, improved links to the railway station, all within a new ‘civic space’ centred on the Cenotaph.
Canalside Communities – Significant new, sustainable communities will merge with existing ones to form an almost unbroken chain of residential clusters between the town centre from Wolverhampton Road through Reedswood and beyond to Leamore.
David Blake, Director for the Black Country at Advantage West Midlands, said: "The Agency has played a key role in working with partners to acquire, assemble, reclaim and re-use under-utilised derelict sites in Walsall.
"Residents and visitors to Walsall will soon start to see some exciting and very visible changes to the town with high quality development and design of new buildings and space contributing to the physical renaissance of the region."
Peter Murray, Area Director of English Partnerships, said: “English Partnerships is working alongside Walsall Regeneration Company and other local partners to facilitate the transformation of Walsall on a physical, economical and social level.
“We are providing a unified vision and framework for regeneration that will build a successful future for the area.”
Tom Ansell, Leader of Walsall Council, said: “This vision represents a tremendously exciting future for Walsall people and I’m tremendously proud of the council’s work in helping develop the regeneration framework.
“Walsall Council is committed to creating a better borough for all our citizens, working hard with our regeneration partners to provide further encouragement for business people to continue investing in Walsall.”
The WRC proposals are on display until 25th October at the New Art Gallery, Walsall, as part of a public engagement process.
The final plan will be launched in January, both locally and nationally, before being presented to the international development community in March next year at MIPIM 2006.
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For further information contact:
Nigel Pipkin
Seal Communications
Tel: 0121 200 0780
Fax: 0121 200 0781
Email: nigelpipkin@sealcommunications.co.uk