£10m transformation of Wolverhampton factory granted green light

The Sunbeam Factory, which stands on a prominent gateway into Wolverhampton, has become an eyesore in recent years, having lain empty since 1997.

Property developer Liam Wordley purchased the building late last year with a plan to redevelop the whole site, based off the Penn Road island.

Work will see 115 apartments built over the next three years and will be completed in five phases.

And the development is expected to create more than 20 jobs in the city.

Thirty-two of the apartments will include learning disability housing, with the remaining available for private rent.

Part of the building will be demolished and room made available for 37 parking spaces, a courtyard containing an outdoor games area, cycle parking and charging space for mobility scooters.

Other support facilities include a laundry and a small shop combined with the concierge office.

Former rugby player Mr Wordley bought the factory, called Sunbeamland in its heyday, from regeneration company Urban Splash.

He said now that planning chiefs had given the official go-ahead - four months after initially approving the plans but with conditions - it would give a new lease of life to that area of the city.

"Work will start imminently and we're very excited," he said.

"It's been a long time coming but we've achieved more in a few months than quite a lot of people thought possible.

"We've got a full team in place and we're working hard to deliver this project.

"It will create more than 20 jobs.

"I'm also trying to source as many of the materials locally as I can."

He added: "We have been preparing the site and with planning permission being formally granted we are looking forward to starting work immediately and bringing this fantastic building back to life."

Mr Wordley was also behind the regeneration of the former Territorial Army drill hall in Stafford Street, next door to the Hogshead bar, which is now student accommodation.

The transformation of the Sunbeam Factory is the latest large-scale redevelopment in the city, with Sainsbury's building a £60m supermarket in nearby Raglan Street.

That is due to open next month, while the city's Mander Centre is also undergoing a multi-million pound transformation with high street giant Debenhams becoming its new flagship store.

A new £4 million casino, creating up to 133 new jobs, is also poised to go ahead if a new casino licence is granted at a meeting next week.

Regeneration chiefs have welcomed the approval.

Councillor Peter Bilson, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "It is fantastic news that this exciting proposal has been approved.

"The Sunbeam site has been derelict for far too long and the regeneration of it is very welcome.

"It is also very pleasing that the majority of the locally listed building will remain as part of the development.

"We are committed to regenerating the city and developments such as this will help us achieve that."

Sunbeam was once famous for its motorcycles, but the 120,000sq ft site has been empty for 14 years.