Mark Watkins, St Modwen

St. Modwen and Goold Estates have announced that construction will commence later this month on ‘Goldmine’ at Lower Hall Lane, Walsall.

Part of St. Modwen and Goold Estates’ joint venture £90 million St Matthew’s Quarter regeneration scheme in the centre of Walsall, Goldmine is a 20,000sq ft purpose built property being delivered for local Community Development Trust, The Vine Trust.  The £2.5 million building will include training rooms, a library, offices and multipurpose space for public performances.  It will be utilised by the Trust to provide training, learning, advice and guidance to young people in the local area. 

Having outgrown its currently property on the corner of Lower Hall Lane and Caldmore Road, The Vine Trust sourced partners in the public, private and third / civil sector to help finance its new property.  These included Community Builders England Ltd, Walsall MBC, The Tudor Trust, Walsall Community Church, Garfield Weston and Walsall Housing Group.

Having appointed St. Modwen and Goold Estates to create it new facilities within St. Matthew’s Quarter, delivery of The Vine Trust’s new property was delayed in 2007 following the devastating fire and subsequent demolition of its intended location within the historic Shannons Mill.

Undeterred, St. Modwen and Goold Estates have driven forward with revised plans to deliver contemporary new premises for The Vine Trust within St. Matthew’s Quarter, appointing contractor Bespoke Construction to commence build onsite later this month.

Mark Watkins, development surveyor for St. Modwen commented:  “We are delighted that construction will commence this month on Goldmine.  We have worked closely with The Vine Trust over the past few years to provide a solution to its accommodation requirements and are thrilled that Goldmine will now be the first property to be completed at phase two of St. Matthew’s Quarter.  The services which The Vine Trust provides make a huge difference to the lives of young people in the local area and we are proud to be associated with it.”

Dominic Goold of Goold Estates added: “It is great that the Shannons Mill site is being brought back into use.  It is down to The Vine Trust that this will be delivered, they have worked incredibly hard to raise the funding for the building in difficult economic times and The Goldmine building will provide a much needed resource in Walsall town centre.”

Kevin Davis, Chief Executive of The Vine Trust said: “‘The Goldmine centre has provided an opportunity to show how partners, in the true spirit of the ‘Big Society’, can pull together in challenging times to realise something they are committed too, but more importantly, young people through Goldmine, and the wider ‘Youth Quarter will realise their aspirations.

“This ‘state of the art’ centre has been inspired by young people for young people. Alongside social and recreational activities, it will offer work-based learning, ICT opportunities, arts, drama, music and creative media activities and a new vocational ‘Studio School.’’

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council Deputy Leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is brilliant news and further evidence of investment in Walsall town centre that will create new jobs and opportunity.

“It’s extra pleasing that we’ve had a direct role as a council in making this happen and now we look forward to Walsall people taking advantage of the new building as well as employment opportunities the construction will offer.” 

Walsall Council and Walsall Partnership works closely with The Vine Trust to deliver a series of community schemes including an access to apprenticeship project with Walsall College and a future jobs fund scheme to create jobs for young people which is also funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The construction of Goldmine is expected to be completed in summer 2012.

An open day to showcase the scheme is set to be staged by The Vine Trust at the Vines Restaurant, Lower Hall Lane, Walsall from 1pm to 6pm on Thursday September 22.