STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus an Integrated Masterplan Vision and Delivery Plan for Wolverhampton Station and Interchange Contents

STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus An integrated masterplan vision and delivery plan for Wolverhampton Station and Interchange Contents

Chapter Page

Foreword 3

Understanding the Potential for Growth 4

Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Wolverhampton Interchange? 5

Coronavirus Statement 6

Bringing our Partners Together 7

About the Station 8

Services and Timetables 9

What do we know? 10

The Headline Opportunities 11

Understanding the Potential for Growth 13

Wolverhampton City Centre Masterplan 14

The Aspiration 15

Development Opportunities 17

Opportunities for Investment 18

Action Plan 19

The Next Steps 20

Who to contact and how to get involved 21

2 Foreword

Introducing the concept of Stations for Places What does the station do for the city of Wolverhampton? The Stations as Places (SAP) programme is a process to help put With nearly £5 billion of investment in the pipeline for the city, the need for high railway stations at the heart of local communities. It is designed to quality infrastructure in the form of a state of the art transport hub is pivotal. help create a vision for the future and to identify opportunities for Connectivity itself is a major driver for growth as it will make it easier for delivering improvements to the local environment and a welcoming businesses and visitors to access the city. The new station developments will ambience. The aim is to work in partnership with others to unlock elevate Wolverhampton’s identity as a city of culture through its high quality potential and to meet shared objectives and aspirations. architecture and impressive scope for improving connectivity.

Railway stations are more than access points to the rail network; THE VISION they can be hubs of activity that are rooted in the locality with the potential to support regeneration and development opportunities. “We will develop stations as quality gateways between They can also host community and business activities and offer communities and the railway, supporting the changing facilities/infrastructure to encourage sustainable, multi modal travel needs of our passengers, residents and visitors. Stations with a view to reducing car dependency and improving local air in the West Midlands will be community assets, quality. supporting the wellbeing and development of the areas What does the prospectus do for Wolverhampton they serve through involving local community and Interchange? business.” There is an important role for the railways to play in both the West Midlands Station Alliance (WMSA) Mission Statement economic and social regeneration of the local areas which our stations serve. This Opportunity Prospectus sets out the economic, social and geographic landscape of the area around our station and highlights some of the opportunities for commercial development, Get in touch and keep up to date partnership working, inward investment and community regeneration. This is a living document and many of the elements require further discussion with partner organisations to progress and You can email [email protected] and one of the team will many elements may develop and alter over time. get back to you! We have included a profile of Wolverhampton Station in this document and looked at different types of activity neighbouring our You can also follow progress on Stations as Places at: station, from local businesses providing facilities to the travelling www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance public, local authorities using existing assets in different ways, businesses looking for investment opportunities and the impact of new and ambitious development in the City Centre. 3 Understanding the POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH

Investment in surrounding land use activities

Wolverhampton Railway Station is located near the centre of the city and therefore nearby to a plenitude of new developments that can be accessed easily by train. Wolverhampton City Council has ambitious plans for its city centre based on a number of new major developments. The new integrated transport hub which includes Wolverhampton Station is just one area that will be improved as part of Wolverhampton’s Connected Places Strategy and Delivery Plan.

Redevelopment is also happening in close proximity to the new Interchange with the rundown area surrounding the station undergoing a transformation to become a thriving MSCP commercial district. Making use of interchange potential, Extension Existing the dilapidated area will be transformed into top grade Station Car Park offices as part of the One Interchange £150 million Railway development. The transformation of the area is a long term Station vision which intends to attract businesses to the West Midlands, similarly to the successful i10 project nearby to the station.

i11 Retail It is evident that there is plenty of investment in the east of /Office the city with Interchange at the centre. Thousands of square i9 Office i10 Retail Development feet of office and leisure space in the form of the Steam Mill, /Office i9, i10 and i11 developments is a promising invitation for businesses looking to set up shop in Wolverhampton. There is also substantial investment in education with the ongoing £120 million University of Wolverhampton Springfield Campus development.

Image Courtesy of Wolverhampton City Council 4 Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Wolverhampton Interchange?

Who are the West Midlands Stations Alliance? WMSA is a formal alliancing arrangement between industry partners with a common vision and forward plan, including infrastructure owner Network Rail, station facilities owner West Midlands Trains (WMT) and local government West Midlands Rail Executive. The role of the WMSA is to facilitate Stations as Places by bringing together various stakeholders to work together in partnership; ensuring that the Stations as Places vision and local aspirations are shared between the stakeholders, the infrastructure owner, the Station Facilities Owner and the local government

Why Wolverhampton Interchange has been selected The Prospectus Wolverhampton is the second largest urban area of the West Midlands conurbation, lying to the north-west of Birmingham. With a population of around 250,000, the railway station that serves this city This prospectus sets out the headline is vital to the mobility of its residents. The station is located on the opportunities for Wolverhampton Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line and is served by Interchange. Wolverhampton Station is at Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and West the heart of redevelopment and it is Midlands Trains. important to lock ensure that the community and local stakeholders are The railway station is currently undergoing a £175 million involved in this process. redevelopment to provide a state of the art gateway into the city. With a focus on connectivity, the Wolverhampton Interchange project This document sets out the challenges provides a hub for rail, metro and bus services. Wolverhampton looks to use the Interchange project as a catalyst for the and opportunities faced by redevelopment of the city centre area, with new commercial, office Wolverhampton Station as expressed by and public space being created as part of the scheme. This fresh different members of the local public and start provides the West Midlands Stations Alliance to bring local this evidence is used to inform objectives residents and stakeholders to ensure that this railway station to actions to help with the prioritisation of becomes a valued asset in the community at this pivotal time. investment in the future.

5 Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Reviving our Railway

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused massive economic and social disruption. Rail operation across the country was placed into an Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement with the Department for Transport.

We were proud to keep our railways running during the pandemic to serve key workers and allow them to travel safely.

We are now in a phase of reviving our railways and the communities they serve.

There are big new challenges for our Stations as Places Programme: • Passenger numbers will take time to recover. • The way in which stations are used has changed. • City centres will have to reinvent themselves as retailers withdraw and office buildings are less full. • Ways of funding new investment will need to be transformed.

Stations as Places will be forward looking and opportunistic. ‘The moment is now’ for stations to harness community spirit, pursue more entrepreneurial ways of using station buildings and support the revitalisation of high streets and local centres.

6 Bringing our Partners together Our stakeholders really matter to us. Whether it’s a major developer building new homes in reach of the station or an individual customer that needs to be able to make an easy journey to a hospital appointment using a combination of train and bus, the Stations as Places team wants to hear views from stakeholders and customers. Our approach to capturing local insights in Wolverhampton covers the following four dimensions:

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE SOCIAL VALUE Railways stations should reflect and cater for the Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger local community to which it serves thoroughfare’ into a genuine community asset will To help shape the future of the station to meet the needs have a positive impact on the local community of the local community, involving them in the planning Residents and businesses are more likely to take process is critical. Community involvement helps to ownership of their local station if it is a pleasant and safe make a station a more attractive and valuable community place to be, meets their needs and represents local asset. Stations as Places aims to establish strong links people and heritage. A railway station as a valued between the station management, Wolverhampton City community hub can offer a real contribution to improving Centre’s great local businesses, the community and social inclusion and mental wellbeing. other local stakeholders; ensuring that the voice of the community is heard. Wolverhampton Station is viewed as an important gateway for commuters, visitors and students by the local community.

LEGACY COMMUNITY An important objective of Stations as Places is to A railway station is often a great asset to a provide a long-term legacy by establishing integration community, but a community can also be a great and community involvement at the heart of the station. asset to a railway station. This will involve the community taking a level of ownership There is room to grow community involvement and of the stations and passing this onto the future generations enthusiasm for the station, drawing upon diverse groups to keep each station a valuable part of the local in the City – residents, students, businesses, sporting community. Of course, Network Rail, West Midlands and leisure attractions. A station which is integrated with Trains and the Local Government will also have an the local community shows that people care and that important role in the legacy of the station and that is why they have something to be proud of, improving social partnership working between the community and these inclusion and mental wellbeing whilst making the station organisations is so important. a more pleasant place to be.

7 About the Station FACILITIES OVERVIEW STATION TYPOLOGY

Staffed Ticket Office City Gateway City Gateway – A station which KEY FACTS Automatic Ticket Machines serves and sits within or close to a • The present station was opened in July 1852 Pay Phones main city centre. by the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and • It has role not only as an Stour Valley Railway and was named Shops/ Refreshment Facilities interchange but also as a ‘Wolverhampton Queen Street’ at the time. gateway and key arrival point to Customer Information Screens • The current station building (before recent the city and wider area. development) was built from 1964-67 by Waiting Rooms • Excellent facilities expected. architect Ray Moorcroft as part of the • These stations are the busiest Ramp for Train Access modernisation programme alongside the on the network and serve the electrification of the West Coast Main Line. 74 Cycle Storage Spaces – with CCTV Surveillance widest range of users and • The first phase of the new Wolverhampton journey purposes. Interchange Development opened to the 832 Car Parking Spaces, 27 Accessible Spaces - £12 • Generally provide access to the public in May 2020, whilst the second phase a day city, interchange with other is scheduled to open in mid 2021. Customer Toilets modes of transport and access • The second phase of development includes to the rail network more broadly. demolishing the old station building. Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge • Serves a wide user audience – commuters, visitors, students. LOCAL ACTIVITIES Wolverhampton station is located on eastern edge of the city centre, just outside the Ring Road. Therefore it is only a short walk to the city centre which is home to a variety of retail centres and places of interest such as the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Molineux Stadium, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. The University of Wolverhampton City Campus is also within walking distance.

The canal and Sustrans National Cycle Route that runs alongside is adjacent to the station, allowing for easy access by cycling and walking. Although there is a need to improve access to this canal for pedestrians and cyclists

8 Services and Timetables (Pre-Covid)

Service details Wolverhampton Station is served by five operators and is a key arrival and departure station, as well as serving as a key interchange for the Midlands for long distance services to the North, South East, West and Wales. Avanti West Coast • One train per hour to London Euston via Birmingham New Street (with more in the morning peak). • One train per hour to Scotland, alternating every two hours between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. These start or terminate at Carlisle, Preston, Lancaster or Crewe during peak hours. • Two trains per day to Shrewsbury (direct service from London Euston). London Northwestern Railway • Two trains per hour to Liverpool Lime Street, starting/terminating at Crewe or Stafford in the peak hours. • Two trains per hour to Birmingham New Street, most of which continue to London Euston via Northampton. West Midlands Railway • Four trains per hour to Birmingham New Street. • Two trains per hour to Shrewsbury, one calling at all stations, and other as a limited stop, semi-fast express. CrossCountry • Two trains per hour to Manchester Piccadilly, via Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield. • Two trains per hour to Birmingham New Street, extending to various parts of southern England such as Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids, Reading, Southampton Central and Bournemouth. Transport for Wales • One train every two hours to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth. • One train per hour to Holyhead via Shrewsbury and Chester. • One train per hour to Birmingham International. Timetables • www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/timetables • www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/timetables • www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/timetables • www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/train-timetables • tfwrail.wales/travel-safer/our-current-timetable

9 What do we know?

CRIME AND SAFETY FIGURES CAR PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY The station’s multi–storey car park is located to • An average of 19 crimes per month the south of the station where there are 832 since July 2017. 224 spaces in total including 27 disabled bays. Now • These crimes include violence and CRIMES cashless, the car park uses ANPR where the sexual offences, vehicle crime, drug RECORDED drive-in rate is £12 per day before 6pm and related offences and public order. IN 2019/20 £8.40 thereafter and £7.20 on at the weekend. The station is open 24/7 and is accessed from Corn Hill by car and by foot. The car park is wheelchair accessible and there are toilets PUBLIC TRANSPORT, WALKING AND CYCLING available. There is also a passenger drop off ACCESS area at the front of the station. The station can be walked and cycled to from the city CUSTOMER SATISFACTION centre with soft segregation for cyclists on Princess There are 74 sheltered cycle storage spaces at Customer complaints at the station fall Street. A footbridge over the ring road connects the bus the station that are under CCTV surveillance. under these five categories: station on the west to the railway station in the west. The Cycle storage is located at the front of the station is also located on the Sustrans National Cycle station, in the runaround whilst the recent • Staff and their availability Route 81 which runs alongside the canal. The canal is a redevelopment works are being carried out. • Fares and retailing valuable asset to the station with 39,000 annual towpath • Accessibility users. • Information provision The existing Bus station which opened in July 2011 was • Quality of facilities one of the initial changes as part of the Interchange project. The station boasts 19 bus stands as well as a STATION FOOTFALL travel information centre. Buses in and out of the station are frequent and is served by over 30 services. Due to the • Footfall rose by 5,305,432 short distance between the railway station and the bus 1.1% from 2017/18. PASSENGERS station, the first and last mile of train journeys can be • 399,162 done on public transport with relative ease. interchanges were IN 2018/19 Once work on the new station is completed it will pave the made in FY way for the Midland Metro Alliance to begin the final link 2018/19. of the new city centre tram extension. The extension will • In 2019, St George’s provide significant improvements to interchange with two Metro Stop had a new stops at the bus station and the railway station. footfall of 847,000. Currently, the nearest tram stop is Wolverhampton St. Source: Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Estimates of Station George’s which had a footfall of 847,000 in 2019. Usage 2018-19 Source: WMT Customer Relations 10 The Headline Opportunities THE STATION

Physical Improvements With the station currently undergoing large scale redevelopment, this is the perfect time to make sure that the community and stakeholders are heard. Physical improvements aside from those included in redevelopment include giving the areas of the station untouched by redevelopment a general refresh and clean, with planters being placed on the platforms and the renewal of tactile paving on platform edges. As well as this, improved wayfinding to key areas and interchanges such as the bus and metro interchange would be a key benefit to those using the station. There have also been calls to make better use of the mural at the station as it is in an older part of the station, Wolverhampton has a rich history and the One Interchange would be a perfect place to display this.

Operational improvements The platforms at the station are The station currently offers very good facilities due to its size, and this will improve when the current works have dreary and in need of brightening up. finished. However, the implementation of Electric Vehicle charging bays would be a welcomed, forward thinking Deep cleaning and adding planters addition to the large car park. Due to the current Covid-19 era, the currently vacant retail spaces need filling either would improve this by retail or by other means. There is potential for a gym, NHS service, nursery, or local community organisation are all viable options for these spaces. In terms of improvements to rail services at the station, improvements include new trains for West Midlands Trains between Birmingham and Shrewsbury via Wolverhampton and enhanced connectivity to Walsall and Birmingham via new stations at Willenhall and Darlaston.

Integration Evidently, integration is a key aspect of the current redevelopments at the station. However that does not mean that more can’t be done to enhance connectivity. The drop off area/taxi rank at the entrance of the station needs to be reviewed as it is currently prone to congestion and is hard to manage. As well as this, as well as improved wayfinding, access from the station to the canal that sits adjacent is arduous considering its proximity. The canal is a fantastic facilitator for active travel and is currently underutilised. An impetus has been put on the improving The route from the station to the city connectivity between rail and metro, and therefore the successful integration of the two modes is vital. centre retail areas would benefit from improved wayfinding

11 The Headline Opportunities ‘Last Mile’: Wider connectivity THE SURROUNDING AREA improvements • The ‘One Interchange’ redevelopment at Wolverhampton railway station aims to improve connectivity drastically from how it is currently. Improvements to other travel modes in the area such Trains to as the newly improved bus station and the proposed the West, metro extension to Wolverhampton Interchange will be Wales and critical in creating a ‘seamless’ connection. Moving the North between different modes therefore also needs to be seamless and efficient.

Trains to • The proposed metro extension branches off the current Birmingham, line at Piper’s Row, it then travels north past the bus London and Interchange stop and over the ring road to the new Interchange. the South Metro Stop This will create a truly multimodal transport network in West Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton • As Wolverhampton is a City Gateway Station, many Canal passengers travel from the station to the various retail and employment centres in the city. Therefore it is Wolverhampton important to establish better and more legible Bus Station connections to key destinations. Currently, pedestrians Piper’s Row are directed over a footbridge over the A4150 ring road Metro Station (In to the bus station but there are only small signposts Development) after this to direct people to key sites.

• As mentioned previously, current access to the canal Wolverhampton St. George’s and cycle path alongside is indirect with inconsistent Metro Stop signage. Shared space links the station to the canal which is not ideal, however a significant portion of the route does have all-weather surfacing. The ability to quickly and efficiently access the station from the canal and vice versa is critical in encouraging the use of active transport to and from the station as cycling and walking along the canal is far more attractive than on roads. The canal also links the station to i54, Wolverhampton University Business Park and Aldersley Leisure Centre. 12 Understanding the POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH

Changes within Wolverhampton Station New Developments in Wolverhampton One of the key aspects of the redevelopment at the station There are ambitious plans for the city of Wolverhampton with involves the refurbishment of the station itself. Phase one of many new developments planned that will attract more redevelopment has been completed and the changes to the station people into the city. As mentioned previously, the University are evident. Some of the new additions include; of Wolverhampton’s 12 acre Springfield Campus is attracting funding for its new National Brownfield Institute which will • Six ticket vending machines raise the profile of the University on a global scale. • British Transport Police area • Increased number of toilets and baby changing facilities The Canalside development project off Qualcast Road has • Three retail spaces also recently taken he next step as land previously occupied • Renewed platform 1 lift (to be completed April 2021) by British Steel has been purchased by the city council. This site will form part of the Canalside Quarter consisting of new home, offices and public spaces. The building of 350 homes Plan of Phase 2 at Horseley Fields as part of the project is due to start in Ground Floor Design 2021.

There are also exciting leisure developments in the pipeline for Wolverhampton. The £55 million Westside scheme is a landmark project for the city’s future plans. The plot in the west of the city will feature a large cinema, bowling and mini- golf and will be a critical pull for local residents and tourists alike.

There is £4.4 billion of investment on site or in the pipeline across the city of Wolverhampton, and the Wolverhampton Interchange is a crucial part of the plan as it will encourage people to access these sites more seamlessly by sustainable modes of transport. 13 Wolverhampton City Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Centre Masterplan Long-established performance space that receives a wide range Springfield Campus of major touring productions A Grade II listed former brewery. Molineux Football The site provides combined Stadium: higher and further education with Many fans who attend excellent public transport access. matches arrive by train. Banana Yard University of Mixed use development including Wolverhampton offices, retail, leisure and Wulfruna Campus residential. The university has 22,000 students across Canalside Redevelopment its campuses. Many Mixed use development including students rely on public offices, retail, leisure and transport. residential. Wolverhampton Art Wolverhampton Interchange Gallery New public transport hub and ancillary residential, leisure and A key visitor attraction retail spaces. Exemplary standard in the city centre. of design to reflect gateway Wolverhampton Civic location. Hall Mander Centre A popular music and A major shopping centre in the entertainment venue. city centre with a large variety of stores and over 500 parking Westside Quarter spaces Development i9, i10 and i11 Developments High quality leisure led Office and leisure developments mixed use area that will in close proximity to the railway maximise regeneration station. opportunity in the west of the city centre. Wolverhampton Bus Station Opened in 2011, the station will Southside play a key role in the integration Developments of rail and bus. Mixed use development in the south of the city Wulfrun Centre centre. High quality Established shopping centre in public realm with leisure, the city centre, home to many residential and retail popular high street stores. opportunities. 14 THE ASPIRATION

“Our canals provide local people and visitors really important green and blue traffic free routes. They are on the doorstep of so many people and we know that spending time on and by the water is good for health and wellbeing.” “We are delighted to see that this prospectus includes opportunities to improve accessibility onto the towpath directly from the station. Our towpaths are excellent traffic free routes for cyclists and pedestrians, allowing people to move around the city whilst being close to water.” Adnan Saif, Director of West Midlands at Canal & River Trust

“CrossCountry fully supports the Stations as Places Prospectus for Wolverhampton and are excited about the interchange and the opportunities this presents to unlock growth in the region through its strong rail links north and south.” John Robson, Regional Director West Midlands and North West

“Wolverhampton Train Station and Interchange offers the benefit of easy access not only to the Mander Centre for shoppers and visitors but also provides a strong connection for our office and commercial businesses and commuters. There is a real opportunity to remind people of the city's rich visitor and cultural assets at the station to encourage repeat journeys and support the city's economy.” Richard Scharenguivel, Mander Centre Manager

15 THE ASPIRATION “Wolverhampton Interchange is at the heart of Wolverhampton’s regeneration proposals for its city centre. It builds upon the city’s excellent locational advantages to deliver a fully integrated, multimodal transport interchange around which the city will develop its commercial office quarter and reintroduce truly sustainable city centre living aligned to excellent public transport connectivity” Marianne Page, Service Manager – Transport Strategy “Wolverhampton Train Station is a key gateway to our city centre and an important interchange in our transport network. The new station building offers a grand sense of arrival and a warm welcome to the city as a destination. There are new opportunities to strengthen positive perceptions of our city with visitors arriving at the station and commuters travelling through. The prospectus will help us to maximise potential connections for all of our city centre businesses, shops and hospitality, and entertainment venues across all of the sectors of our city’s rich economy” Cherry Shine, Wolverhampton BID Director “The Grand Theatre’s proximity to multiple public transport links contributes to the diversity of its audiences while the continuing development of Wolverhampton Interchange and transport options available can only support the popularity of the venue going forward. Improvements to the Train station and pedestrian routes from there into the city which also consider the needs of night-time visitors are an important step in developing the positive experience of theatregoers. In turn their enthusiasm improves perceptions of the city as a whole.” Adrian Jackson, Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Grand Theatre 16 DEVELOPMENT Large Scale Options OPPORTUNITIES • Successful delivery of Interchange Phase 2 station facilities. • Prudent planning in Steam Mill and Banana Yard sites for accommodating access provision to canal. • The incorporation of Wolverhampton’s culture and history in the redevelopment of the station. • Metro City Centre extension integration. • Improved wayfinding to key interchanges and sites of interest to improve connectivity and integration (particularly for walking and cycling within the last mile). • Exploit opportunities associated with the Commonwealth Games. • Resolve the wider arrangements for vehicle access/egress and the drop off area. • Station as a tourist destination, potential for ‘Tunnels Tours’. Medium Scale Options • Working with British Transport Police to reduce knife and drug issues as well as antisocial behaviour in and around the station. • Delivery of Cycle Hub with connection to city centre. • West Midlands Cycle Hire will be delivering cycles across the city centre, enabling people to choose cycling for the final mile. • Engagement with outreach to address the high homelessness at the station. • Provision of charging stations for electric cars. • Consider options for improving railway station lift reliability. • Improvements to access from the Broad Gauge Way entrance to the station. • Relocation of artist-created panels to a more visible location in station. • Fill station’s commercial spaces with innovative tenancy options such as a gym, nursery, NHS or young/local entrepreneurs centre. There is a lot of potential to link up with independent business in Wolverhampton such as The Light House, local coffee shops (e.g. Nutmeg, Alice’s Tea Room, Lindy Lou’s) Small Scale Options and Quick Wins • General refresh and clean of the station facilities. • Renewal of tactile paving on sections of platforms where it has eroded. • ‘Brightening up’ of platforms. • Establish ‘Friends of Wolverhampton Station Group’ and progress ‘Destination Stations’. • Provision of additional platform canopy lengths to provide additional shelter for customers • Investigate provision of community rail discount card at local businesses and pursue local links with station neighbours. • Continuation of mobile coffee cart on station approach. • Promote cycling through events such as ‘Dr Bike’ to seize the opportunity presented by COVID-19. • Free WiFi around the station. • Develop and implement football match day event management plans. • Get station staff linked to the local BID radio network to increase knowledge sharing within the local area. • Creation of artwork and interpretive displays of heritage. 17 OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT

The Stations as Places Prospectus should act as a means of providing an evidence base which can attract funding opportunities and implement quick-win initiatives and measures. To achieve this, continuous stakeholder involvement and collaboration is crucial to develop relationships within the communities that Wolverhampton station serves. Most importantly, this Prospectus plays a key role in marketing the station at the hugely exciting time of delivering phase 2 improvements and a world class integrated transport hub with rail, bus and metro. Options for Delivery

Commercial Third Party Funding External Funding Section 106 Opportunities • Customer and Communities Improvement • City of Wolverhampton Council Funding can Fund (CCIF). Subject to DfT approvals, West • West Midlands Trains be secured Commercial enterprise in Midlands Trains has an annual budget of • Transport for Wales when a third- existing and new premises £1.7million to support schemes that are • CrossCountry party at the station. proposed, developed • Avanti West Coast development Business sponsorship and delivered by our customers, communities • Network Rail relates to the opportunities e.g. and stakeholders. • Black Country Local Enterprise station (in Wolverhampton Wanderers • National Stations Improvements Partnership planning terms). Football Club Programme (NSIP). • Department for Transport

Easy Wins

Community and Volunteering resources: Investment of time from community and enterprise groups such as through setting up a Friends of Wolverhampton Station Group.

18 Action Plan Making the station a world class interchange

The action plan and targets provide a focus for the Stations as Places prospectus, as a way of measuring whether future schemes have a positive impact on sustainable travel. The targets below enable us to review the success of this opportunity prospectus and if the measures taken have resulted in improved sustainable access to the station, continued and enhanced community involvement and a complement to other capital improvements, not least the station forecourt improvement scheme.

Action Responsibility Timescale Targets

Years 1 and 2: Station adoption/ sponsorship by community Short to • West Midlands Railway and business enterprise Medium • Establish Friends of Wolverhampton Station group.

• Deliver ‘quick win’ station improvements.

Deliver ‘quick win’ improvements at the station • West Midlands Station Short to • Completion of Phase 2 station improvements – including planting, deep cleaning, repair of Alliance Medium and world class interchange with bus and tactile paving metro.

Years 2 - 4: To increase passenger use through City Centre housing, employment and retail growth • West Midlands Railway Medium to Long • Increase passenger numbers by capturing a (post Covid-19 recovery) rail market from housing, employment and retail growth (post Covid-19 recovery). • West Midlands Station Alliance • Maximise existing and future commercial • Network Rail premises at the station. Deliver phase 2 station improvements and • Transport for West create a world class interchange with rail, Medium to Long Midlands metro and bus integration • Midland Metro Alliance • City of Wolverhampton Council 18 The Next Steps

This Prospectus is very much a ‘living action plan’ that will be developed and re-imagined as new opportunities arise.

• We will work collaboratively with stakeholders and funding partners to deliver the action plan, with a short term focus on supporting Phase 2 of the station development.

• We will continue to engage with our stakeholders so they have their say in how the Prospectus develops and delivers and participate in community activities at the station.

• We will monitor the achievements of the Prospectus against the identified targets.

• We will measure the performance of the Prospectus against goals for increasing the sustainable travel mode share for access to stations and customer experience at the station.

20 WHO TO CONTACT and HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Railways bring people together and there is a powerful historic sense of pride in the railways in the UK. Stations began life as beacons of hope and revival for local communities and when stations are places of welcome, happier and more passengers ensue.

This prospectus presents information on the challenges and opportunities at Wolverhampton station as expressed by diverse stakeholders and community members. This evidence has been used to inform a set of objectives and a list of actions defined during the course of the study which will help to prioritise future investment at the station and within the local area. We hope you enjoyed the journey.

The Stations as Places initiative is designed be open to all. We really want to engage with organisations of different shapes and sizes. We’d love to hear from developers and their consultant teams about how we can work more closely with you to connect with your development schemes, especially if you are needing people to take the train to ease pressure of the road network and make your development proposals work effectively. But we’d also love to hear from shopkeepers and other local businesses, from social enterprises and residents’ groups, and from organisations supporting disabled people and others needing accessibility support. So how to get involved? You can email [email protected] and one of the team will get back to you!

Contact us if you would like to: • Give us feedback about this Prospectus • Flag up an opportunity with your proposed development • Talk to us about how your organisation can get involved You can also follow progress on Stations as Places at www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance