When James Beattie opened his Wolverhampton department store in 1877, he probably wasn’t thinking about what would become of it 150 years later. If we were able to talk to him now, he might be happy to know that it’s about to undergo a massive makeover, or he might just be confused as to what we meant by ‘I just read about it online.’
Whatever James would have thought, a developer has finally signed onto the Beatties renovation project, with the goal of turning the space, which has been vacant since 2020, into 306 homes and some brand new commercial space, revitalising the area while respecting the building’s historic significance.
Corstorphine & Wright, a local construction company, has submitted planning permission to change most of the interior while maintaining the building’s iconic facade and courtyard. A representative from the group said: ‘With a deep respect for the building’s historic features and a commitment to reusing as much of the existing fabric as possible, this sensitive approach minimises further demolition.’
A second representative continued: ‘We hope this will enhance and revitalise the street, positively stimulating broader regeneration in Wolverhampton.
‘We are looking forward to bringing new life to this beloved landmark, ensuring Beatties remains at the heart of the city centre.’
The company put its bid in about a month ago, but the council is yet to approve or deny the request, so we don’t know yet whether the vision will be realised. If it gets permission, building could start as early as next year.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – a decision date hasn’t even been set yet. We hope that whatever happens to the building, it’ll be what James would’ve wanted all those years ago.
Glowing up
Beatties isn’t the only building set to get a major revamp. Elsewhere in the UK, two world-famous Liverpool museums are getting massive makeovers, Leeds’ legendary Tetley building is undergoing a transformation, one of Britain’s ‘ugliest buildings’ is getting a multi-million pound refurb and House of Fraser’s empty Oxford Street store is getting a £132 million overhaul.
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