Capital & Centric set to deliver fresh look for Sainsbury’s site

Capital & Centric has been appointed to turn a brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a creative new neighbourhood. A report – to be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet next week – recommends Capital & Centric is appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site. The first step will be to develop a masterplan for the five-acre St George’s site, with early ideas for a melting pot of homes, community spaces and green streets, with the Grade II listed church repurposed as a community centrepiece. Shops, workspaces and café bars would also be developed with links to the £61m City Learning Quarter set to open in 2025. If appointed, Capital & Centric will work up a detailed vision as to how the strategic site could deliver more than 400 homes. City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins said: “Ambitious plans and investment as part of a wider strategy are driving the regeneration of our city centre. The St George’s opportunity sits at the heart of this, well connected to commercial and leisure hubs, which is a priority as we transform our city centre to generate jobs, homes and growth. “If the recommendations are approved by cabinet, it will enable the council to develop an outline business case that will establish this site as a new gateway into the city centre.” John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital & Centric, added: “St George’s is a worthy headliner among the line-up of major opportunities in Wolverhampton and fits perfectly with what we’re about… delivering eclectic neighbourhoods that mix the old and new. “It has bags of potential and we are already brimming with ideas of how we could deliver new city centre homes alongside community hangout spaces and loads of much-needed greenery. We can’t wait to write the next chapter for the stunning St George’s church, creating a new centrepiece around which the community will revolve.” St George’s was one of a trio of development opportunities featured in the Wolverhampton investment prospectus, launched by the council earlier this year. The prospectus is aimed at bringing the private and public sector together to unlock growth in the city, delivering more homes, jobs and investment. To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews