Major projects across Walsall and where they’re up to as 2024 draws to a close

While these initiatives are generally very welcomed, seeing them come to life is another matter entirely. 

Those living in the borough of Walsall have seen their fair share of delays when it comes to regeneration. As the year draws to a close, we take a look at each of the projects and where they’re at.

Walsall town centre

The Connected Gateway Project aims to improve the Saddlers Centre and improve the connection between the railway station and St Paul’s bus station. Construction started on the downstairs area of the Saddlers Centre, known as the Bradford Mall, last month.

In December, plans were submitted to transform Butler’s Passage by demolishing 38-46 Park Street, completely opening up the area between the bus station and the high street. A decision on whether or not to approve the plans is expected to be made in March 2025.

Construction is set to start on Walsall’s Guildhall in early 2025, a Grade II listed building at the top of the high street. The hope is for it to become a modern Creative Industries Enterprise Centre with works expected to be finished in spring 2026. In January this year, the council said construction was due to start in spring 2024. 

Also in the town centre, a proposed canal footbridge was given planning permission in September 2024. The borough council said work is expected to start onsite in early 2026. The main beneficiaries of the new bridge would be the residents living in the 300 properties on the waterfront near Boulevard Walk. Those living in the apartment blocks will shave five minutes off their journeys when walking to the Crown Wharf Retail Park once the bridge is complete.

Improvements to Gallery Square will start in mid 2025 as part of the phased town centre works. The scheme hoped to deliver a more inviting and engaging public space around the northern area of Park Street and into Gallery Square. In partnership with the Canal and River Trust, the council hopes to improve the area around the canal basin, which was described as a ‘wasted asset’ in the town centre.

Bloxwich 

Green Bloxwich, a programme announced in March 2023, aimed to transform King George V Playing Fields into a ‘destination of choice’. Works include bringing back into use the Pavilion and Park Lodge and installing new play equipment and multi-use games areas. The council said works will start on site in spring 2025. 

The funding for the scheme came from the Bloxwich Towns Fund in a bid to ‘design out crime’. Play equipment at King George V Play Fields was destroyed in an arson attack in October 2024. 

Construction commenced on Bloxwich Launchpad this year. The facility located in the former Post Office on Market Place will offer support with digital access, and training, and will have an ‘incubation’ centre for entrepreneurs. In November 2023, the council said the facility would be up and running in September 2024. The latest due date for delivery is spring 2025. 

Willenhall 

Deputy leader councillor Adrian Andrew defiantly vowed demolition will start in the new year at Villiers Street, Moat Street, New Hall Street, Stafford Street and Temple Bar. The council was granted Compulsory Purchase Powers this year, meaning they can buy the mostly dilapidated properties without any landowner’s consent. 

The ‘new beginning’ for the area will see 107 homes built in the area, which has become a target for antisocial behaviour and arson. Once the Moat Street plan is complete, other parts of the 10-year ‘Willenhall Masterplan’ to be delivered include improved bus services, enhanced walking and cycling route, a ‘super crossing’ on New Road and new homes in the area around Pinson Road.

Willenhall, Darlaston and Aldridge railway stations 

Willenhall and Darlaston stations connecting Walsall and Wolverhampton are on track to be completed by late 2025, or early 2026. Ground remediation works at both sites were completed this year.

Last-minute changes had to be made to the Willenhall railway station plans after an ‘unauthorised’ building appeared next to the site in May. The West Midlands Rail Executive said the team had no choice but to work around the building in order to keep the project moving forward and on schedule. 

In Aldridge, work is ongoing at the new one-platform railway station which will provide a service to and from Walsall. It was confirmed that the service will run half-hourly, taking six minutes to get into Walsall and is expected to be up and running in 2027.

SPARK at Junction 10

SPARK, formerly titled Phoenix 10, will be Walsall’s 40-acre logistics and manufacturing hub at Reservoir Place, previously home to the James Bridge Copper Works which closed in 1999. 

The derelict wasteland was tainted by industrial contaminants. Remediation works to clear up the ‘most contaminated site in Europe’ were carried out in 2024. Henry Boot Development, leading the project, said the first phase of construction is due to start in February 2025. The first units are expected to be available by autumn 2025. 

Darlaston

In October 2023, Darlaston was awarded £20 million of government investment to be spent over ten years. No updates have been made available on this except that ‘further detail will be provided in the new year’. The council said a programme will be ‘reformed and retained’ as the government looks to restart the programme with receiving towns.