A year of regeneration in Walsall town centre

The borough of Walsall is in the middle of a £1.5billion programme of transformation; delivering a bold future built on proud foundations.  

Several major regeneration projects across the town centre have moved from planning into delivery; from revitalising long-neglected retail space to improving connectivity, public realm and community facilities, and local people are beginning to see real changes.

Reviving the Town Centre

At the heart of Walsall’s town-centre regeneration stands the Connected Gateway Project, a transformational scheme that will reconnect the bus and rail hubs, modernise retail and public space, and reshape the arrival experience into Walsall town centre.

A major milestone was reached in October 2025 when work on the first phase of the project was completed. The ground floor (Bradford Mall) of the Saddlers Centre was fully refurbished and Walsall residents even welcomed back the much-loved Three Men in a Boat automaton as part of the work.

2025 also saw contractor Keir being appointed to deliver the second phase of the scheme, which will see the continued redevelopment of the Saddlers Centre (Park Mall) as well as the demolition of buildings on Park Street (in early 2026) to create a new plaza and improve the linkages between St Paul’s Bus Station and Walsall’s train station.

Connecting the Waterfront: Canal Footbridge & Sister Dora Boat 

A new Walsall waterfront footbridge is expected to improve pedestrian links between the waterside/residential apartments south of Walsall’s Canal Basin with Crown Wharf retail park (and on into the town centre). This will begin delivery in early 2026, bringing the residents more fully into the fabric of town-centre life. 

In November 2025 we saw the launch of a new canal maintenance barge, the “Sister Dora”, which will be moored in the town’s canal basin. The barge, operated by the Canal & River Trust, will help keep clean the waterways and towpaths around Walsall and shows Walsall’s commitment to reinvigorating its canals and making them assets for leisure, residents and visitors alike.

Historic Building Renewal: The Guildhall Walsall

Another key success of 2025 has been the continuing restoration and refurbishment of The Guildhall Walsall - one of the town’s most recognisable civic buildings. The much-anticipated restoration and transformation of Walsall’s grade II* listed Guildhall started in May 2025, with completion expected in summer 2026. The building will then be managed as a Creative Industries Enterprise Centre by Urban Hax CIC, and is already being marketed as “The Guildhall” to potential users and investors.

The refurbished building will have enhanced its long-term sustainability, with improved accessibility, and will create modern, flexible internal spaces for creative industry businesses, with spaces for community activity and events. This investment ensures that The Guildhall Walsall will continue to play an active role in town-centre life for generations to come.

Young people, Education and Skills Investment: New Adult Learning Centre and Youth Hub

In one of the most exciting repurposing projects for the town centre, planning permission has now been granted for a new Adult Learning Centre to be delivered within the former Marks & Spencer building on Park Street.

The state-of-the-art facility will support skills development, employability and lifelong learning, benefitting adults from across the borough, bringing more footfall into the town centre. Work has already started to strip out the old parts of the building and construction is due to begin in 2026, with the centre expected to open to students in September 2027.

July also saw a new youth hub open in the Saddlers Centre in Walsall, named by our young people as ‘Our Place’, with the aim of giving people under 18 years old  a safe and welcoming place to go after school and throughout the school holidays. The centre has seen over 1,300 visits from young people since its opening.

A New Strategic Vision Approved

A new Town Centre Framework was formally approved by Cabinet in December 2025, setting out a long-term vision for Walsall as one of the healthiest, greenest and most accessible town centres in the country. This strategic blueprint guides future development, public realm improvements, heritage assets, markets, active travel, community provision and investment in leisure, culture and living.

This framework provides a blueprint for the next 15–20 years of regeneration with many of the initiatives already underway.

Looking ahead to 2026 

As major projects move further into delivery through 2026–27, residents can expect to see even more visible signs of the transformation taking place across the town centre.

Walsall’s regeneration programme will continue to be shaped by community feedback, strong partnerships and long-term strategic planning, ensuring that this £multi-million investment delivers real social, economic and cultural value for people and businesses across the district.