Cradley Heath industrial estate to be demolished for 300 new homes

Factory units off Woods Lane and Macarthur Road will be bulldozed to allow a new housing estate comprising of 351 homes to be created.

Sandwell Council has been handed more than £5 million from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership in support of the plan.

The cash will be used to flatten the derelict buildings and construct a new link road to aid the major development across a nine-acre site.

The council has already received the go-ahead to demolish the buildings, with a full application for the homes expected to be lodged before the end of the month.

The plans form part of a vision to restore the Woods Lane area of Cradley Heath, near the town's train station, which is mostly populated by derelict factory units.

Part of the site which has bee designated 'local importance for nature conservation' status will be retained to form part of the community space which will accompany the housing along the River Stour.

Once the site is cleared, the council will then look to get a developer on board to deliver the homes.

Cradley Heath councillor Julie Webb said the development would be a major boost for the town.

"In Cradley Heath, we have got what they call grot spots.

"We are really chuffed to bits with these plans. It will bring footfall into the town centre and it is an ideal spot for commuters.

"People in Cradley Heath will be really happy with this. The local authority is going to spend a significant amount of money and investment down there is long overdue.

Documents which have been made public ahead of the application being submitted said: "The site is allocated to come forward for residential development. In support of this allocation, Sandwell Council has been awarded £5.14 from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership to conduct demolition work of the industrial units and to construct a new road access to facilitate the development of circa 351 dwellings."