Plans for landmark business hub in Wolverhampton unveiled
PLANS to develop a landmark building to house a booming business hub in the heart of the city have been unveiled.
Designs for the proposed i9 building, which could launch in Wolverhampton's Railway Drive, were displayed for the first time this week.
Developers want to create 50,000 sq ft of office space over the next two years as part of the ongoing transformation around the train station.
Lead architect Fraser Godfrey, of Glenn Howells Architects, said: "The design had to be sensitive to neighbouring landmarks such as the Chubb Buildings and the Prince Albert pub and will become a stunning contemporary addition to Wolverhampton’s family of red-brick Victorian buildings.
"It's going to provide much needed Grade A office space in the city. The city has a lot of office facilities but it's of poor quality. What we are trying to do is establish a new benchmark for Wolverhampton."
Plans for the development, which will sit next to the historic Chubb Buildings and across the road from its i10 counterpart, were unveiled during a public consultation at Fryer Street's Light House on Thursday.
It could include creating restaurant or cafe space within the ground floor of the building, along with rooftop space boating panoramic views towards the city centre conservation area and Interchange.
Project leaders are hoping they can attract a major firm to the building, with the first tenants expected to move into the space in mid-2020.
A planning application is now expected to be submitted to the council next month and work could start later this year if given the go-ahead.
Designs for the area, put forward by Glenn Howells Architects, were selected by Wolverhampton council and development partner ION.
It came after the success of the multi-million pound office and retail development i10, the council said.
Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for city economy, said: "Glenn Howells Architects have produced outstanding designs, that combined with blueprints for the other parcels of land, will help us quickly progress developments with our Interchange partners over the coming years.
"Since i10 was completed we have seen increasing demand for quality office space in that location of the city, particularly from large space users.
"i9 was always envisaged to satisfy that demand, and we are confident these plans will deliver a landmark office building of the utmost quality that is entirely appropriate to its important historic setting.
"We want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre."
