First Wolverhampton council houses in 30 years near completion

Wolverhampton MP Pat McFadden joined Councillor Peter Bilson to view progress on the seven-acre site in Thompson Avenue, Ettingshall.

Forty new council houses are being built as part of a wider development which will see a total of 120 new homes built on the site.

The first of the council properties is due to be completed in September.

Last year Wolverhampton Council struck a deal with developer Kier Partnership Homes to redevelop the site near Phoenix Park. The local authority gave the developer the land free of charge on condition that at least a third of the new homes built would be council properties.

Councillor Bilson, the city's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "It is extremely exciting to see this hugely important scheme take shape.

"One of our key aims to regenerate the city is to increase the number of decent and affordable homes that are available in Wolverhampton and this scheme certainly helps us achieve that.

"We are now looking forward to seeing these properties completed and occupied later this year."

Mr McFadden, the MP for Wolverhampton South East, said there was a need for more affordable good quality housing in the city.

"This excellent new development is the first new council housing to be built in Wolverhampton for many years and will be one step towards addressing the shortage we face."

The project, the first council housing development since a scheme in Pendeford in the 1980s, will also see 80 private homes being built, ranging from bungalows to four-bedroom properties.

It is anticipated that all 40 council properties will be completed by spring 2015 with the whole scheme completed in 2017.

Managing director of Kier Partnership Chris King said the company was proud to be working on the scheme.

"We understand that affordable housing needs a sustainable design both play an important role in this development."