WATCH as derelict Bilston buildings are flattened in £176m redevelopment
Derelict buildings have been demolished as part of the £176 million Bilston Urban Village project.
The plans were unveiled at a public exhibition last year and now a demolition team has started tearing down parts of the town centre to make way to the redevelopment.
Derelict buildings in High Street are being removed for a new pedestrian link between the town centre and Bert Williams Leisure Centre.
As the project continues, land opposite the leisure centre will be developed to include new cafes and restaurants.
Building work to create 500 new homes and open spaces on brownfield land to the south of the leisure centre and Black Country Route will begin in the spring.
Wolverhampton City Council is investing £7.5million with the Homes and Communities Agency towards the Urban Village.
Private investment will make up the rest of the cash.
The new pedestrian link from High Street will also join with Pinfold Street car park.
The council has invested £2.5million into this part of the scheme, with numbers eight to 20 on High Street being demolished by the end of March.
Regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson said: "Bilston's regeneration will see extensive development and the creation of open space as its community grows.
"It forms part of the multi-million pound wider regeneration of the whole of the city of Wolverhampton which is now gathering pace.
"This demonstrates our commitment to Bilston and ensures it will be a thriving part of our city as we move forward.
"This regeneration is happening now and brings confidence to the area which will in turn attract more investment.
"Removing the derelict buildings is another step forward for Bilston and will improve the vision of the town centre.
"The pedestrian link will better connect the town centre to the leisure centre and new commercial development.
"In the long-term it will also provide an area for future potential regeneration and further enhance Bilston town centre."
Plans for the High Street link were approved in 2010 and the buildings were compulsory purchased by the city council.
The full Urban Village proposals were unveiled in March last year.
Bosses have also showed off plans for the release of the first phase of the residential development off Dudley Street.
Traders and residents were invited to view the plans and speak with representatives from the city council and town centre management.
That phase covers preparatory work at the 35-hectare site next to Carder Crescent, which has been empty for years and could house more than 500 homes, as well as leisure facilities.
Plans also include the removal of the former railway embankment between Coseley Road and South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy and new road junctions in Coseley Road and Highfields Road.
