An iconic but vacant department store in the heart of Wolverhampton is set for a major transformation into residential flats, following a key planning decision.
Council Green Lights Major Redevelopment
City of Wolverhampton Council has approved plans to convert the former Marks and Spencer building on Dudley Street into 71 new homes. The substantial store, which served the city for close to 100 years, shut its doors for good in September last year.
The application, submitted by Nottingham-based ALB Group, will see all four floors of the building repurposed. The scheme includes a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments. Importantly, the ground floor retail frontage along Dudley Street – the city's principal shopping thoroughfare – will be retained for commercial use.
Preserving Character While Adding Homes
ALB Group purchased the prominent property for over £3 million in 2025. While redevelopment plans were being finalised, the unit was temporarily occupied by a Home Values store, which opened in December.
A design and access statement submitted with the planning application emphasised the sensitive nature of the project. It confirmed the building sits just outside the official Wolverhampton city centre conservation area. The proposals aim to ensure the development does not adversely affect the character or setting of this protected zone.
External alterations to the building will be minimal, carefully designed to respect the surrounding streetscape. Retail activity along Dudley Street will be maintained to preserve the area's commercial vitality.
New Life for a City Centre Landmark
The statement outlined further details: "The proposed development involves a change of use of part of the ground floor to provide residential access, residential units and communal facilities, while retaining retail uses along Dudley Street."
To ensure peaceful living for future residents, a separate residential courtyard will provide amenity space. Potential noise from the retained retail units will be mitigated by keeping delivery and servicing activities entirely separate, using the existing goods yard and a back-of-house corridor.
Meanwhile, retail giant M&S has stated its commitment to remaining in Wolverhampton. The company is reportedly considering the historic former Banks's Brewery site – which also recently closed after 150 years – as a potential new location.
