First look inside Wolverhampton Wiggle warehouse
This the first look inside the sprawling new warehouse for online cycle store, Wiggle, in Bilston.
Council bosses have taken their first look around the mammoth Citadel building as it gets ready to open for business in October.
Around 600 people will be employed in the long-term, with recruitment already under way for the first 150 at the site on the Black Country Route junction with Black Country New Road.
Council leader Roger Lawrence said: "This is really good news for the area. The building has been empty far to long but now it will provide real opportunities for the people of Bilston, Wolverhampton and the surrounding area.
"It is a major building, as big as four football pitches, and there is going to be a lot of work going on to get it ready."
The 320,000 sq ft landmark building had been empty since it was built six years ago, but is a local landmark with the 20ft wide metal sculpture of a bird of prey over its entrance.
Mr Lawrence said: "This thing has been sitting here while we waited for something to happen, so it is really good news. Now it is a case of letting people know about it. We are thinking of putting up some signs to let people know what is happening here over the coming months.
"Initially there will be 150 to 200 people working here, but eventually that could rise to 600 – although that may take a few years.
"And we are also looking forward to continuing a really good working relationship with the company."
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden added: "This is good news for Bilston and for the local economy. The creation of up to 150 new jobs is very welcome. This investment and the employment it will bring is a real boost to the local area."
Wiggle currently stocks around two million items, ranging from bicycles to sportswear and swimming costumes, at its three warehouses near its Portsmouth headquarters. But this summer it will be moving every scrap of stock the 168 miles from Portsmouth to Bilston as it gets ready to go 'live' at the Citadel building in October, ready for the Christmas rush.
The company says it chose the building because of its links to the national motorway system, but it has also praised Wolverhampton City Council for its assistance with the relocation project.
Wiggle started out as a bike shop called in Butlers in Portsmouth in 1920 but its dramatic growth came after it went online in 1999. In its last financial year it saw sales soar 19 per cent to a record £168 million.