Homes planned for former Wolverhampton tennis courts site
Ten new homes could be built on the site of a run-down former tennis club in Wolverhampton.
Bilston Tennis Club, on the corner of Villiers Avenue and Harper Road, closed down in 2016 and the land occupied by the sports club’s courts has not been used since.
The council is now looking to clear the site, which is badly overgrown with bushes and weeds, to make way for ten new two-bedroom properties.
Bilston Tennis Club, one of the oldest clubs of its kind in the Black Country with more than 100 members at its peak, closed due to falling numbers and relinquished its lease on the site soon after.
In June 2017, Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet (resources) panel approved plans to redevelop the land under the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association agreed to the site being used for 100 per cent affordable housing, subject to a payment of £40,000 from HRA funds to mitigate for the loss of the tennis courts. The cash has been used to improve tennis courts at East Park.
Managed
The proposed development, which will be managed by Wolverhampton Homes, will consist of two terraced blocks made up of one and-a-half storey dormer bungalows facing Villiers Avenue.
Access for cars will be created from Villiers Avenue leading to off-street parking, with one space allocated for each dwelling. New tree planting and landscaping work is also planned within the site.
Councillor Linda Leach said: “It was very unfortunate when the tennis club closed and fell into disrepair. But as the land has just been lying vacant for a number of years, a development like this will tidy the site up and put it to good use at the same time.
“The plot has been overgrown for many years, and people wishing to play tennis still have access to the courts in East Park which have now been revamped.
“Ten new two-bedroom dormer bungalows for Bilston is fantastic news, as we really need more affordable properties in the town that allow people to live independently.
“Existing trees around the site will be retained and more trees, shrubs and hedges are also set to be planted. All the new properties will also have railings to the front gardens and individual bin stores that only the residents can access.
“The only concern for me originally was access to the new properties because of the narrow streets. But I’m happy with the plans as they have been revised to make things more accessible and the issue of parking has also been addressed.”
Wolverhampton Council’s planning committee will discuss the application on January 12.
