Housing estate plans stall after failed bid

A 120-home development – part of Bilston's £200 million Urban Village – has stalled after a bid for government cash to help fund it was thrown out, it was revealed today.

The development, the first wave of housing proposed for the long-awaited transformation project for the town, has been delayed after it was denied a share of Kickstart funding from the government, which is provided to get housing projects on track. A bid for cash to help create up to 110 houses at Blakenhall Gardens was also thrown out.

Wolverhampton City Council spent £870,000 in securing Places for People as a developer for Bilston Urban Village.

The funds were used in the early stages of the project to prepare for the transformation of more than 100-acres of derelict land. The money was spent on legal fees and a competition process which lasted for two years, where bidders offered their services to build a £15m leisure centre, 1,000 homes, a medical centre and a £23m new academy school.

But the company hoped to get government funding for the first 120 homes, due to begin construction next year.

Regional minister Ian Austin this week unveiled a shortlist of 29 stalled housing schemes that could get the funding, including £463,000 for the Claremont development at the former Bilston Girls' High School.

Councillor Paddy Bradley, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "We are delighted that Wolverhampton City Council has been shortlisted for £463,000 to enable the Claremont development in Bilston to be progressed.

"Bids were also submitted under the Kickstart programme for Blakenhall Gardens and Bilston Urban Village which did not receive allocations in this round of bidding. The authority will continue to work in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency to identify other funding options that will enable these schemes to be taken forward."

Construction of the new leisure centre as part of the Urban Village, off the Black Country Route, is due to start in the new year.