Projects: Wednesbury Town Centre Masterplan

The Wednesbury Masterplan is a key part of a £3 billion Regeneration Pipeline aimed at transforming multiple areas across Sandwell. This initiative will attract new investment, create training opportunities and generate jobs for local people, all while revitalising Sandwell’s historic town centres.

The people of Wednesbury — including residents, retailers, businesses, and visitors — care deeply about their town. Their feedback has shaped the Wednesbury Masterplan, which sets out a clear vision for the future of the town centre. You can watch the Wednesbury Town Centre Masterplan video here.

This masterplan is an exciting opportunity for Wednesbury, celebrating its proud heritage while paving the way for a vibrant and prosperous future.

On 17 July 2024, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet officially approved the Wednesbury Town Centre Masterplan.

Vision and Aims: Shaping the Future

The vision and aims of the Masterplan are built on community feedback, ensuring that future developments enhance the town centre’s strengths while respecting its unique character.

Masterplan Vision  

“The town centre will be revitalised as the vibrant heart of Wednesbury, a historic Black Country market town with a proud heritage, and a contemporary place where people live and work that supports the needs and wellbeing of local communities”.

“Wednesbury will boast a distinctive visitor experience that will combine shopping with a diverse evening economy and cultural offer that welcomes a broader range of visitors from across Sandwell’s communities.” 

Masterplan Aims

• A welcoming and inclusive town centre with attractive arrival spaces, better safety, good quality and easy to use signage to ensure everyone knows where they’re going, and a unique character based on the identity and history of Wednesbury.
• A well-connected place which is easy to get to and around, has better links to the West Midlands Metro, is well connected with surrounding areas and neighbourhoods to make it easier for people who want to walk, cycle, take the bus or tram as well as those who need to drive.
• A transformed local environment with better quality public spaces that people will want to spend time in, fill in the gaps between buildings, bring vacant buildings back into use, more greenery, better connections between the town centre and green spaces and greater resilience against the effects of climate change, extreme weather and flooding.
• A consolidated and strengthened retail offer with a greater range of shops all close together, more independent businesses and an expanded evening, cultural, community and leisure offering providing more things to do in the town.
• A diversified mix of land uses including higher density residential development – such as apartments and townhouses – places for start-ups, performance spaces, more employment opportunities and housing options for older people.
• An active and vibrant place in the daytime and evening with high footfall in key retail streets, active ground floor uses and spill out spaces, and activities taking place in public spaces with more events, markets and pop-ups.

The Masterplan has been developed with funding from the Government as part of a partnership between the Council and the Government. It is part of the Levelling Up Partnership overseen by the Wednesbury Levelling Up Partnership Board.

Key Documents

• Wednesbury Town Centre Masterplan
• Wednesbury Town Centre Masterplan Frequently Asked Questions
• Wednesbury Town Centre Masterplan Consultation Summary