VIDEO: First steels arrive to begin erection of new framework
Work has this week begun to erect the steel framework on the new multi-million-pound Bilston Market.
It comes on the back of contractors Speller Metcalfe completing the necessary groundworks and is a major milestone in the scheme.
On track to be completed in June 2026, the new market will boast better access, a new canopy, upgraded toilets, enhanced stalls, and improved public spaces.
More than £8million is being invested in the redevelopment of Bilston Market after City of Wolverhampton Council showed its commitment to the scheme by providing a £2.5million uplift to the budget to engineer the design after discovering difficult conditions under the ground.
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VIDEO: West End star & former student officially opens college campus
West End musical star, Nicole Lewis was among VIP guests at the official launch of City of Wolverhampton College's new campus this week.
Former college performing arts student Nicole Lewis - who is currently starring in the hit show Starlight Express, in London – and Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development Jobs and Skills, joined the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood, West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, and college CEO and Principal, Lousie Fall, as well as around 50 representatives from organisations across the region, at the official opening of the new city centre building.
The campus - the flagship of the council's transformational City Learning Quarter development - started welcoming students on November 4 and hundreds have flocked to the new site since the doors opened for the first time.
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Festive boost as new-look Darlington Street reopens in city centre
Works to lower Darlington Street have been completed as the first part of City of Wolverhampton Council’s current £19million city centre improvements programme.
As planned, the road has now reopened to all traffic ahead of the busy Christmas period – supporting businesses and a host of festive activities such as Christmas Markets on Dudley Street and Victoria Street, a 3D projection show on St Peter’s Church and Enjoy Wolverhampton BID’s Santa’s Ice Palace in the Mander Shopping Centre.
Final resurfacing at the junction with Waterloo Road and School Street is taking place during overnight road closures this week and is expected to be finished by the weekend. The affected roads are open during the day to minimise disruption to businesses.
The next part of the improvements programme will begin fully on upper Darlington Street early next year, when works will also start in sections of Queen Square and Lichfield Street.
Funding for the overall scheme consists of £13.5million from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund, £3million from the Towns Fund and £2.6million from the Active Travel Fund.
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VIDEO: Barr & Grosvenor prove tradition and innovation go hand in hand
Barr & Grosvenor, a Wolverhampton metal foundry with an incredible 170-year heritage, is proving that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand - thanks to support from the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Business Development team.
Introduced to the company in 2022, the team first assisted with securing grant funding for a critical upgrade: an 1100kg Mass Comparator to modernise the heavy calibration facility. This investment strengthened the foundry’s precision capabilities and set the stage for further improvements.
Over the next year, Barr & Grosvenor faced challenges with ageing electronic control gear in their induction melting furnaces. Once again, the council stepped in, guiding the application process for a grant to purchase and install a refurbished inverter - delivering a solution with minimal disruption.
While working on these upgrades, the council gained insight into the resilience required by a traditional industry adapting to modern demands. Barr & Grosvenor continues to innovate, with waste foundry sand used as concrete for projects such as HS2 rather than going to landfill, and even recycling old car brake discs to melt down for new projects - an approach that reflects their commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness.
The foundry’s director describes the council’s support as “encouraging and energising” - a testament to how business support and local partnerships can help historic businesses thrive in a changing world.
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Thousands of new homes to transform Wolverhampton's heart
Wolverhampton is bringing thousands of new homes and vibrant spaces for modern living and working in the city centre. A standout example is Sunbeam apartments, where Paragon Living is breathing new life into the former Sunbeam factory.
The development will deliver 186 stylish apartments that blend contemporary design with the building’s rich heritage features. Phase 1, launched in April, is already fully let, marking a major step in creating a thriving residential community right in the heart of the city.
But Sunbeam Apartments offers more than just homes. The space includes co-working facilities, meeting rooms, private dining areas and longer-term business lets, making it a hub for businesses and professionals seeking flexible, high-quality spaces.
With thousands more homes in development and on the way, such as the Canalside South and Smithgate schemes, Wolverhampton is redefining city centre living - combining history, innovation, and opportunity.
For enquiries about using the co-working or event spaces at Sunbeam, please email justin.hyde@paragonliving.co.uk
High-quality service in training and employment support for residents
City of Wolverhampton Council’s skills teams have been awarded the Matrix standard for high-quality work in providing information, advice and guidance on skills, training and employment opportunities for Wolverhampton residents.
The Matrix award is the Department for Education’s national quality benchmark for the provision of Information, Advice and Guidance by a service.
The work of the council’s skills teams includes the successful Wolves at Work programme, which helped over 650 local people into work over the last year, and the Connexions service, which has carried Matrix status since 2017 for its delivery of independent Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG).
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Professional services teams' switch supporting Estates Masterplan
The University of Wolverhampton has officially begun relocating its professional services teams to the Civic Centre in the heart of the city, marking a significant milestone in its ambitious Estates Masterplan.
Over the coming weeks, more than 500 staff members from departments including Finance, Human Resources, Recruitment, and Marketing will move into newly refurbished office spaces within the Civic Centre.
This strategic move is part of a ten-year lease agreement with City of Wolverhampton Council and reflects the University’s commitment to creating a more connected, collaborative, and sustainable working environment.
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