Final design work is being carried out ahead of a planning application being submitted for a new £6million entertainment and events Box Space in the west of Wolverhampton city centre.

The demolition of derelict shops at 1-7a Cleveland Street has now been completed to pave the way for the new entertainment and events venue which will bring tens of thousands of visitors to the city centre every year.

The cleared site and car park sitting between Cleveland Street and Bell Street will be used for the construction of the Box Space, which is set to open in 2024.

It is the next phase of a £22million package of investment in the west of the city centre following extensive public realm improvement works to the Victoria Street and North Street areas – part of a transformation creating better public spaces that will attract more visitors and enable businesses to thrive and grow through a blended approach of retail supported by events and activities in quality public spaces, as well as city centre living.

The Box Space scheme, which also includes land remediation of the site and the purchase of new shipping containers for food and drink vendors, will be funded through a combination of the Government's Future High Streets Fund and council investment.

It will also support the newly reopened The Halls Wolverhampton in developing a burgeoning evening economy that will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city centre each year and boost the local economy by millions of pounds annually.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Visitor City, said: “Clearing the derelict shops on Cleveland Street has already removed an eyesore in our city centre and now paves the way for an exciting new development that everyone can enjoy.

“We are now focused on finalising the plans for what will be a modern food, beverage and entertainment city centre facility that will boost footfall and create invaluable employment and business opportunities.

“These type of box spaces, using shipping container-style cabins, are hugely popular in other areas of the country such as Newcastle, London and Sheffield and will be a superb addition complementing Wolverhampton’s existing leisure, events and evening economy.”

Image captions: Before - Eyesore Cleveland Street derelict shops now demolished. After - Cllr Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Visitor City, at the Cleveland Street city centre site where the new Box Space will be constructed