Wolverhampton College demolition approved as developer waits in wings

Plans to knock down a dozen buildings at a vacant Wolverhampton college have been rubber-stamped, with the site lined up for more than 100 homes as part of a future housing development.

City of Wolverhampton Council lodged plans to level the Paget Road site in July, following Wolverhampton College’s relocation to purpose-built premises in the city’s £60m learning quarter scheme at St George’s.

After reviewing a demolition statement put forward by agents Bruton Knowles, the city council decided prior approval was not required to knock down twelve buildings on campus, which had been home to the college since 1962 until last year’s switch November last year.

Demolition is expected to take around three months to complete.

The 25-acre plot went up for sale with Bruton Knowles last year as a potential housing development, and is now showing as being under offer.

Council documents published in March 2024 show the site had been earmarked for more than 100 homes once the sale had been completed to a developer.

However, a deal for the site is unlikely to be formalised until planning permission has been submitted for the scheme, while DfE approval would also be needed for the preferred bidder before any sale could proceed.

No future plans have yet been submitted for the site.

Plans and documents relating to the application can be found on City of Wolverhampton Council’s planning portal using reference: 26/00705/DEM