Homes to transform rundown Sandwell Council land
A transformation of old offices blighting neighbourhoods across Sandwell into new housing estates has been revealed.
Council officials say they are keen to redevelop the rundown sites in Tividale and West Bromwich and boost the area for families.
Four sites will be demolished with new homes built in their place available to rent, reveals a report going before councillors next week.
The costs of the plans have yet to be revealed as a tendering process for the work is still to take place.
But it is thought the scheme could run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Three of the sites involved are based in the Tividale office, in Hilton Road, alongside the West Bromwich office, in Gladstone Street, and Hateley Heath office, in Monmouth Drive.
These are currently sites where former housing offices stood.
A fourth site, in Ladbury Road, on the Yew Tree Estate, also has office buildings on it which were previously leased to children's charity Barnardo's until March 2014.
Sandwell Council says it wants 27 new council homes on the land to re-invigorate the neighbourhoods.
Sandwell councillor Paul Moore, who is in charge of regeneration projects, said creating new homes is one of the 'top priorities' for the council.
"We have a continuing demand for affordable rented properties, particularly houses in Sandwell," he said.
"Demolishing the existing and unwanted offices frees up the land so we can redevelop it by building much-needed council homes for local families.
"While under construction, these developments will also provide job and training opportunities, and when completed, improve the local area."
If plans are approved, the existing buildings will be demolished with the land redeveloped to provide new council homes for rent.
The Hilton Road development in Tividale, Oldbury will have eight two-bedroom and two four-bedroom properties built on it.
Gladstone Street in West Bromwich is set to have five two-bedroom bungalows with the Monmouth Drive site having four two-bedroom and two four-bedroom properties.
The Ladbury Road site on the Yew Tree Estate will feature six two-bedroom properties.
Work is scheduled to get underway in the summer of this year following a competitive tendering process to select a developer.
Officials hope that the homes would be completed by April 2017 once the schemes get the go ahead.
The proposals will be discussed by the council's cabinet on Wednesday (9).
