Demolition begins in Bilston ahead of major regeneration plans

Derelict buildings from number 8 to 20 High Street are being knocked down by contractors, preparing the site for a new pedestrian link to the planned £176 million urban village scheme, which was approved by Wolverhampton City Council in June and is part of the wider regeneration of Bilston town centre.

The single storey High Street properties are expected to be cleared by Christmas, with demolition beginning on the two and three storey building fronting in the new year. Work is being carried out by a local contractor and will continue at the site for 24 weeks.

The pedestrian link will provide direct and safe access through to the new Pinfold Street car park, and on to the Bert Williams Leisure Centre and other new facilities.

When completed, the new access link will be surrounded by a landscaped open space just off the High Street.

Councillor Peter Bilson, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for economic regeneration and prosperity, said: "We are committed to the regeneration of Bilston to ensure it can continue to be a thriving town which will attract further investment and more visitors.

"This work will remove derelict buildings to improve the vision of the town centre and improve connections between the two sites. In the long term it will also provide an area for future potential development and further enhance Bilston town centre."

In addition, investigative ground works have started on the first two sites off Carder Crescent where housing will be developed. The city council is in final negotiations with the potential developer.

Plans for the High Street link were adopted in 2010 and the buildings were compulsory purchased by the city council.

The council's planning committee approved plans for Bilston's multi-million pound urban village scheme in June, including proposals for new access junctions, road and ground works.

Under the plans, groundworks will be carried out, mineshafts treated and sewers and woodland management carried out on land between Coseley Road and the Midland Metro Line.

Also included in the proposal is the creation of new access junctions off Coseley Road, Highfields Road and Dudley Street, as well as a new bus link to Dudley Street and a road linking Coseley Road to Highfields Road.

A report to the committee at the time said six letters of objections had been received, as well as a petition of 91 signatories from 60 addresses.

The main objections included overlooking and loss of privacy, noise from construction, and the position of the main link road affecting residents because of increased traffic noise and additional through traffic.