Council to take over Walsall business park plan
The Phoenix 10 site in Walsall, poised for a multi-million pound transformation into a business park, will be taken over by the council so the scheme can forge ahead.
Members of the council's decision-making cabinet last night agreed to lead the scheme.
The authority will take on the land, off Darlaston Road and Reservoir Place, to help with reclamation work and the development of the site. It comes after the preferred developer pulled out.
Regeneration chief Adrian Andrew told the meeting: "We are stepping in to drive this project forward. This is a major site, not only within an Enterprise Zone but within the Black Country, to create jobs for the citizens of the Black Country as well as Walsall."
Council leader Mike Bird said there were no fears about Phoenix 10 being scrapped.
He said: "This is not dead, its is far from it, it is still going forward as a prime project."
The council will acquire all the 37-acre site and then appoint a specialist contractor to push forward plans for the business park.
The main landowner is currently the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which had been working on finalising a deal with developer Parkhill Estates, which later dropped out.
The council is now taking control of the management of the scheme which is expected to create 3,000 jobs as part of the Enterprise Zone.
Meanwhile, £1.2 million of school improvement across Walsall was also backed last night.
The cash will be spent on junior, primary and secondary schools across the borough.
Education boss Rachel Andrew said: "It shows we are investing money in schools."
Work will take place at a dozen schools and includes £205,000 on heating improvements at Blackwood in Streetly and £200,000 at Greenfield in Shelfield.
Boiler work worth £130,000 will be carried out at Whetstone Field in Aldridge, around £125,000 on electrics at Palfrey and £120,000 towards roofing at Pinfold Street in Darlaston. Others being lined up for works are Alumwell Nursery and the Infants, Delves Junior, Kings Hill Primary, Little Bloxwich, New Invention Infants, and Pelsall Village Primary.
The programme is made up of grant and borrowing powers from the Government, section 106 contributions and capital receipts. Schools are also required to make contributions.
