Where heritage meets innovation: transforming a piece of Walsall’s history
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Historic grandeur meets cutting-edge renovation as Walsall Council works with developer Interclass, and Urban Hax CIC to bring the historic Guildhall back into use.
Honouring the town’s rich industrial past, the Grade II* listed landmark will offer a new generation the innovative facilities and opportunities to carve out a prosperous creative future.
More than just a business space, The Guildhall will be a hive of inspiration and innovation, with a café, gallery, and conference facilities hosting a range of creative and cultural events. Right at the heart of Walsall, The Guildhall is a short walk from the train and bus stations, surrounded by independent cafés, shops, and cultural venues.
Under 30 minutes from Birmingham and 2 hours from London, Manchester, Sheffield and Bristol, Walsall is a well-connected location providing a wealth of exciting opportunities for economic growth.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, said:
“The renovation of The Guildhall is a fantastic example of how we can repurpose disused buildings and bring them back into economic use for a new generation. The Guildhall will provide the focus for a revitalised town centre and align with the aspirations set out in our ambitious plans for Walsall.
“Restoring a heritage building has its challenges, but we have worked closely with developers and with Urban Hax to overcome these issues and facilitate its careful restoration. It will be a fantastic asset for Walsall Town Centre and a jewel in the crown for the borough when it’s complete in summer 2026.”
The mission for The Guildhall is bold: to become the creative hub for Walsall, igniting creativity in all its forms and fuelling creative enterprise by empowering makers, artists, innovators and creative companies with the skills to survive and prosper. This unique combination of creative incubator and community makerspace will be run by Urban Hax, a non-profit creative CIC.
Established in 2014 Urban Hax has built its reputation as being a great place to practice and exploit creativity in all its forms and aims to build a thriving creative community in the Black Country.
Geoff Henderson, Director of Urban Hax, said:
“As a creative counterweight to the New Art Gallery Walsall, The Guildhall will contribute to Walsall’s regeneration, supporting local talent, and helping to revive the high street through culture and creativity.”
Restoring a listed building like The Guildhall presents a unique set of challenges, balancing the need for preservation with modern functionality. There are strict regulations to follow, and a need to engage with conservation officers. Integrating modern amenities like heating, insulation, and accessibility features without compromising the character of the building demands creative and sensitive design solutions.
Among its most intriguing historic features are the old police cells in the basement - a tangible reminder of The Guildhall’s past. These will be carefully preserved as part of the restoration, ensuring that the building’s layered history remains visible even as it takes on a new life as a hub for creativity and innovation.
Mike Quinney, Contracts Manager at Interclass, said:
"It is truly a one-of-a-kind project and one we are incredibly proud to be involved in. Restoring The Guildhall is just as much about preserving the past as it is about investing in the future. From day one, we’ve prioritised creating opportunities for local people and students to gain hands-on experience, develop skills and contribute directly to transforming their town centre. We look forward to continuing to see local talent play such an active role in the restoration as the project progresses.”
The Guildhall project has been funded through Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund and the Government’s Towns Fund, with Walsall Council working closely with Urban Hax to access the necessary funding and remove barriers to bringing the scheme to life.
Walsall Council has recently secured an additional £20million funding through the Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership, enabling additional funding to be allocated to the Guildhall project for further specialist equipment and facilities.
Construction on the Guildhall is set to complete in Spring 2026 ready for a grand opening in early summer.
Gleeds, CPMG Architects and Cundall are the appointed consultants working on the scheme.