Developers interested in Bilston Urban Village site

Wolverhampton council has finished its advanced works programme – and the authority hopes to make a final decision in the autumn on who will develop the 27 acres of land available.

The advanced works programme was undertaken by the council, with additional funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, to make the brownfield land ready for development.

Up to 450 new homes will be built, alongside new employment areas and leisure facilities on other parts of the urban village site.

The council's city economy boss, Councillor John Reynolds, said: "This is a major milestone for Bilston Urban Village.

"The site is now cleared and housing can be built in the very near future.

"We have several keen developers who are very interested in this site and the reason they are interested is because it has been cleared and is ready for development.

"The council has spent a lot of time making sure there is good road access, and ensuring that, with a bus-only link, cycle ways and pedestrian routes, the new housing will be well connected to the town centre.

"Everything a developer would want is available on site ready for them to come and build houses.

"The urban village will be a key part of the wider regeneration of the city, bringing new homes, new jobs and more investment. It demonstrates our commitment to Bilston and ensures it will continue to be a thriving area."

Housebuilder Kier has already started work building 78 new home, made up of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties on the first two plots, located on the west side of Dudley Street either side of the entrance into Carder Crescent.

The first phase of Bilston Urban Village saw significant investment in the building of the Bert Williams Leisure Centre and South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy, the creation of a commercial development plot fronting the Black Country Route and the direct pedestrian linkage of the site with the town centre.

Meanwhile, the highways improvements associated with the works are on schedule for completion in December.

The 12-month project, which is being funded by £3 million of Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership money, is now at the halfway stage.

Improvements are being made at the Black Country Route and Coseley Road roundabout and at the Broad Lanes/Ladymoor Road/Highfields Road junction.

The Black Country Route and Coseley Road roundabout is one of the busiest in Wolverhampton and the works will deliver new and wider lanes to reduce traffic congestion.

There are lane restrictions affecting the Black Country Route and Coseley Road, and a temporary reduction in the speed limit to 30mph for the duration of the works.

A new mini-roundabout is being built at the Broad Lanes/Ladymoor Road/Highfields Road junction to enhance the traffic flow and enable an increase in vehicle capacity, as well as better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. The short section of Highfields Road currently closed is due to reopen on July 8.

Two-way temporary traffic lights are in place on Broad Lanes/Ladymoor Road at times and diversionary routes are in place for those affected by the Highfields Road closure.

The Bilston Urban Village development is one of a series of regeneration projects taking place in the city.

The historic former Armitage Shanks Tap Works Factory site is also set to be transformed into more than 100 homes on three derelict sites in Low Hill.

The site was first marketed by the council in March and seven expressions of interest were submitted, which have produced a shortlist of four developers invited to tender.

The Armitage Shanks Tap Works factory on Showell Road closed its doors in 2007 and has since been demolished.

The council hopes to appoint a development partner in the summer to build a mix of council homes for rent and private homes for sale on the site, as well as on land on Fifth Avenue and Broome Road.

Work could start on site by the autumn.

Elsewhere, the city centre is also seeing a boost, with regeneration plans for the Southside area progressing well.

The former Netto building has already been bulldozed, while the former furniture shop at the corner of Snow Hill and Cleveland Street is also being razed to the ground.And work is also continuing on the multi-million pound revamp of the Mander Centre which will see a new Debenhams store.