Where are we now? A recap of Walsall’s regeneration progress in 2024

The borough of Walsall is in the middle of a £1.5billion programme of investment, creating jobs, business opportunities and new housing, as well as improving transport across the borough, and breathing new life into our town and district centres.

Here is an overview of what’s been achieved in 2024, and what we can look forward to in the new year and beyond.

Bloxwich

• Construction started on the new Bloxwich Launchpad, which will open in Spring 2025. The former Post Office on Market Square is in the process of being renovated to make way for a state-of-the-art facility for residents to learn and hone their digital skills, and for entrepreneurs to form and grow their businesses. 
• Bloxwich parks will be improved under the Bloxwich Town Deal, and 2024 has seen the development of the plans for King George V, with work due to start early in 2025. Work will include creating more multi-use games facilities and bringing the two park buildings back into use. 
• A new public toilet opened on Bloxwich High Street following calls from residents who wanted access to public toilets in town and district centres. 

Willenhall

• Walsall Council’s compulsory purchase order for Willenhall was confirmed in November; a big step forward in the regeneration of Willenhall through the housing-led scheme. 
• The Willenhall Greenway scheme was completed, which saw improvements made to a 3km stretch of footpath running East-West from Willenhall Memorial Park, backing on to Moat Street/Villiers Street to provide better walking and cycling routes to green spaces, housing and employment areas. 

Walsall Town Centre

• Planning permission was granted in September for a new canal footbridge that will connect the waterfront apartments to Crown Wharf retail park, improving accessibility for people walking in and out of the town centre. Work is also ongoing with plans to improve the Canal Basin and area around The New Art Gallery. 
• The vacant Guildhall building on Walsall High Street has been stripped internally in preparation for construction that will transform the building into a brand-new hub of creativity called the Creative Industries Enterprise Centre. The building will be refurbished carefully to retain its historic features, and will become a makerspace, in partnership with Urban Hax CIC, to help creative businesses grow and thrive in Walsall. 
• Work has started on the Town Centre Connected Gateway project, which will see the refurbishment of the Saddlers Shopping Centre and the creation of a more open and attractive town centre. The first phase of work, on the lower floor (Bradford Mall) started in November and the planning application for the next phase was submitted at the end of November 
• Walsall Council is working with Walsall College to develop an Adult Learning Centre in the former M&S. Initial work to strip out the building has been done and plans are being finalised for submission to planning early in 2025.

Employment and Industrial Land

• Walsall Council and HBD marked the end of the first stage of a major £100 million regeneration project at SPARK, Walsall, as the two-year site remediation successfully came to a close in September. The 40 acre logistics and manufacturing hub will see start construction early next year. The site will eventually be home to 620,000sqft of high-spec space.

Transport 

• 2024 saw the completion of M6 Junction 10 improvements and the scheme was recognised at the West midlands Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation awards, winning Best Collaboration and Best Large Project. 
• The A34 Green Lane bridge was widened to create a second pedestrian footpath to provide safer access to Homeserve and other businesses without crossing the busy road.
• The first of 35 new electric vehicle chargepoints were launched in September. The scheme aims to make owning and charging an electric vehicle more accessible.
• Work started on the new railway stations in Willenhall and Darlaston that will improve connectivity across the borough.