ECF breaks ground on 331-home Smithgate first phase
Construction on an £83m civic quarter in Wolverhampton is now under way, kick-starting a 1,000-home mixed-use scheme backed by public and private investment.
The start of work on 331 homes set to be built as part of the first phase of the scheme, known as the Bicycle Works, completes a decade long journey since the 12-acre site near the city’s market hall building was earmarked by the city council for a major regeneration project, originally known as “City Centre West”.
Developer English Cities Fund, a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse, appointed Caddick Construction as the main contractor for the first buildings on the site last year.
When completed, around 1,000 homes are set to be built as part of the wider development, as well as a number of new shops, cafes, restaurants and public spaces.
Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor; Maggie Grogan, Muse midlands managing director; Cllr Chris Burden, cabinet member, Basit Ali, Muse development director, at the start of works at the 12-acre Smithgate site. Credit: ECF
The regeneration has attracted significant investment for its first phase of delivery, with ECF securing £18m from the West Midlands Combined Authority and £65m in private funding, which Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman at ECF, said demonstrated a shared commitment to the future of Wolverhampton.
“We’re pleased to be working with the City of Wolverhampton Council to deliver long-term regeneration that will make a real difference to residents and businesses,” he said.
“These milestones mark an important step forward for Smithgate as we work together to transform the area into a new mixed-use district, bringing forward new homes, high-quality public spaces and places for people to connect in a vibrant city centre.
“We are confident this will unlock economic growth, create jobs and act as a catalyst for further investment in Wolverhampton city centre.”
A hybrid planning application was approved in March 2025 – including full planning permission for phase one of the scheme a site between Salop Street and Peel Street.
At the end of last year, City of Wolverhampton Council announced plans to relocate a works compound to a vacant site in Bell Street to enable work to start on Smithgate this year.
Cllr Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for city development, said: the start of work was a “major tipping point” for the site, which he said was the largest regeneration scheme in the city.
“Its transformation is set to re-energise the city centre by supporting new and existing communities, ” he said.
“The first phase comes on the back of a catalogue of investment schemes set to boost the city centre economy, including the new £61 million City Learning Quarter, which recently opened to college students, and the ongoing £19million city centre improvement works programme.
“Smithgate is Wolverhampton’s largest regeneration scheme and will deliver hundreds of new homes for local people, create jobs and boost businesses – securing brighter futures for all.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “These homes, shops and restaurants will breathe new life and vibrancy into a corner of the city that always had so much more to offer. The scheme will be a springboard for new growth and provide hundreds of badly needed new homes.”
