New date for second phase of £19m street works

The second stage of a major £19m Wolverhampton city centre transformation scheme will begin next month.

Work on upper Darlington Street will now start on 9 February, according to City of Wolverhampton Council, which previously said the next phase would begin in January.

The first stage of the plans on lower Darlington Street was completed in November.

Works in sections of Queen Square and Lichfield Street will follow in the coming months.

The overall scheme across all three locations remains on track to be completed in the middle 2027, said the council.

The scheme has promised to deliver high quality improvements to the area, such as "wider, brighter, safer streets vibrant public events spaces, more trees, greenery and seating and easy access for buses, cycles and taxis".

Councillor Chris Burden said the works would ultimately enable people to better enjoy the city centre.

He said: "Creating enhanced walking, cycling and dwell space, as well as infrastructure for events and attractions, and a better environment for city centre living is helping to boost the local economy.

"The works will also complement other transformational development schemes already under way or in the pipeline in the city centre, including the £150m interchange and commercial district, and thousands of new homes coming at Smithgate and Canalside – all helping to create hundreds of new jobs and further investment opportunities.

"In the meantime, I'd like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while these critical works are carried out."

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.