Wolverhampton homes development plan granted green light
Plans to create hundreds of homes in Wolverhampton that were drawn up by residents have been formally adopted by the city council.
Wolverhampton City Council has approved the neighbourhood schemes for Tettenhall and Heathfield Park after they were drawn up by residents groups.
They set out a vision for future land use in the areas and will play a part in the granting or refusing of any new developments. They are the largest and most ambitious plans of their kind in the country to get this far.
The proposals support the building of 975 new homes and investing in parks, open space and transport.
In Tettenhall, they also set out guidelines to prevent pubs being converted for other uses. Residents also called for stricter regulation of shared houses.
The Heathfield Park plan includes proposals to tackle parking problems around New Cross Hospital and turn Heath Town park into a focal point for the community.
Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, who represents the Heath Town ward, said they showed the value of getting people involved in shaping their own communities.
"We also welcome the announcement that the Springfield Brewery will become a campus for the university," he added.
Councillor Wendy Thompson, who represents Tettenhall Wightwick, said the proposals recognised that Tettenhall was an area with quite specific requirements.
"It is a very green area, and we should maintain that special character," she said. "I would like to see all areas have their own neighbourhood plans, it raises the esteem of the people living in the neighbourhoods as well."
Councillor Elias Mattu, who is in charge of communities at Wolverhampton City Council, said: "Now that the neighbourhood plans have been formally 'made' they hold considerable legal status.
"All developers will be expected to consult with the local community before submitting a planning application to the council – and all applications will need to be accompanied by evidence that the community has been consulted.
"I'm delighted to say that the neighbourhood forums who worked so hard to create the plans will continue to play an important role by monitoring and implementing the policies in the plans, particularly in relation to their application in planning decisions."
