Step forward for long-planned entertainment venue

Plans for a "box space" venue in Wolverhampton have moved a step forward, with a decision to appoint a commercial developer for the scheme.

The city council's cabinet approved the move, which has been on the drawing board since before the Covid pandemic, at a meeting earlier.

Under the proposals, food and drink vendors would be in converted shipping containers, with the operator repaying the council's planned £5.5m funding through lease payments.

Council leader Stephen Simkins told the meeting: "This scheme has the potential to attract at least half a million visitors a year. It gives people more reason to come and visit Wolverhampton time and time again."

Several potential sites have been shortlisted, but the council is also keen to hear from prospective operators on which council-owned sites would work best for their proposition.

This type of venue typically brings together smaller street food suppliers around communal dining areas, allowing groups to eat together from different vendors and come together to watch sporting events.

Other cities have used the converted shipping containers as start-up retail venues.

Another cabinet member, Bhupinder Gakhal, said: "This is truly a wonderful vision for Wolverhampton, creating more footfall and bringing more people into our city centre.

"Leeds have something similar and it has been a tremendous success, and that is what we want to offer."

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