City of Wolverhampton Council has said it “remains in constant dialogue” with Wolverhampton Wanderers and is ready to support the Premier League football club with any plans it proposes for stadium redevelopment, as it detailed proposals for a ‘Molineux Quarter’.
The Council last week shared the new Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus for the first time at the UK Real Estate, Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). The Council showcased Invest Wolves opportunities to thousands of investors, funders and developers at the event in Leeds, ahead of what it claimed will be “some major development announcements” this year.
The prospectus seeks to reflect the changes brought about by COVID-19 and presents an ambitious vision of how the West Midlands city can grow – highlighting opportunities to build on the £4.4bn (€5.16bn/$5.51bn) of public and private sector investment already on site or in the pipeline in Wolverhampton.
The Molineux Quarter was one of six key investment opportunities outlined in the prospectus. The Council has outlined how it could include a comprehensive redevelopment of new academic buildings, mixed-use development and public realm, centred around expanding the football stadium and university with potential for new commercial/leisure development.
Shedding further light on the vision behind the Molineux Quarter part of the proposals, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, told TheStadiumBusiness.com: “Redeveloping the area around Wolves’ stadium would deliver a Molineux Quarter better linking the football club and University of Wolverhampton’s city campus to the city centre.
“The aim is to create an attractive and vibrant urban space. The prospectus provides indicative examples that demonstrate the possibility for comprehensive mixed-use and public realm redevelopment, including the potential for a major hotel.”
Regarding Wolves’ role in such a project, and a timeline for potential delivery, Simkins added: “The Council remains in constant dialogue with the football club about development options for the area around Molineux stadium.
“This is a long-term ambition, which is dependent on attracting the right investors, and there are currently no definitive timescales for delivering a scheme.”
Plans for a ‘Football Quarter’, which included expanding Molineux and developing a new hotel, were first detailed during the 2018-19 season, Wolves’ first campaign back in the Premier League. However, these plans have stalled since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020.
In April 2020, it was reported that Wolves had submitted a planning application for a temporary 500-seat stand as it looked to press ahead with plans to expand Molineux. The stadium, Wolves’ home since 1889, has a current capacity of 31,700 and the club’s owners, Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, have long-term plans to expand this to as high as 50,000.
Regarding how Wolves’ redevelopment ambitions tie in with the Molineux Quarter vision, Simkins said: “The new Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus demonstrates our commitment to driving further investment in our city and we are ready to support the club with any plans they choose to bring forward for redeveloping the stadium.”
Image: City of Wolverhampton Council
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