Wolverhampton Council has secured planning permission for a new £12.5 million depot and taxi licensing office, marking a significant step in the city’s regeneration efforts. The new facility on Hickman Avenue will house the council’s fleet of bin lorries, gritters, vans, minibuses, and taxi licensing operations, replacing the existing depot at Culwell Street and taxi office at the former Loxdale Primary School in Bilston.
This relocation clears the way for the extensive Brewer’s Yard redevelopment on the Culwell Street site, which will include up to 1,300 new residential units along with shops, offices, restaurants, and bars. A council report highlights that transferring fleet services will not only generate construction jobs but also support the council’s sustainability goals by reducing its carbon footprint through the introduction of electric vehicles.
The new depot will feature EV charging points catering to the city’s growing low-emission fleet, which includes more than 80 minibuses. The council is actively replacing its 450-vehicle fleet with electric alternatives as part of its commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral authority by 2028.
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Construction work on the Hickman Avenue site is slated to begin shortly and is expected to last around 12 months. Funding for the £12.5 million project comes from various sources, including £5.1 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority, a £5 million grant from the government’s Towns Fund, £1.6 million from taxi licensing revenues, and a loan of £750,000.
Originally, the new depot plans included the redevelopment of Wolverhampton’s 50-year-old wholesale market. However, this has been dropped following concerns over the £6 million cost and annual running expenses of £272,000. The council maintained it is not obliged to provide facilities for private businesses and should not subsidize them with taxpayers' money.
Labour council leader Stephen Simpkins described the wholesale market as “half-empty” and operating at an annual loss of £160,000. Traders have been given 12 months’ notice to vacate, exceeding the minimum notice required by tenancy agreements.
This development paves the way for a dynamic urban transformation, delivering jobs, new homes, and more efficient, environmentally friendly council services, underlining Wolverhampton’s commitment to sustainable growth and community revitalization.