The contractor has been appointed by Walsall Council under a direct award through the Pagabo Major Works Framework to deliver the Connected Gateway and Adult Learning Centre project, including enabling works, demolition and the main build.

The scheme will breathe new life into the Park Street building at the Saddlers Shopping Centre, which has stood empty since M&S closed the store in 2018.

Plans will see the late-1970s retail unit converted into a new hub for Walsall College’s adult education provision, offering courses focused on employability, business skills and IT training.

Council documents said the reuse of the building would play a “transformational role within the heart of the town centre”, supporting wider regeneration ambitions and helping shift Walsall away from its traditional retail-led offer.

Work is due to complete in February 2028.

The project forms a key part of Walsall Council’s wider town centre masterplan, which aims to repurpose long-vacant retail space and bring more education, employment and public services into the heart of the borough.