More than 70 council homes to be built across Sandwell
More than 70 council homes are set to be built in a Black Country borough, it has been revealed.
Bosses have agreed to buy plots on four development sites in Sandwell to bring about a much-needed boost to its housing stock.
The 74 homes, a mixture of houses and apartments, will be located on Dudley Road in Rowley Regis, Clifton Lane in West Bromwich, Simpson Street in Oldbury and Whitehall Road in Great Bridge.
The cash-strapped authority has set aside £74.1 million to build council homes, up until 2018-19 in an attempt to reduce the number of people on the council house waiting list.
It follows other home developments on empty land, including a vandal-stricken former car park in Great Bridge, which could be revived and turned into 50 apartments.
A council document states: "The development of this site will deliver residential accommodation bringing back into use long-term derelict sites, which have been an eyesore for some years.
"It will compliment work being undertaken to regenerate currently vacant sites."
A total of 30 homes will be built on the Rowley Regis site. A further 14 houses will be built on the West Bromwich site.
The Oldbury site will contain eight one, two and three bedroom homes while 22 homes will be built on the Great Bridge site.
Rowley Regis councillor Barbara Price said:
"It's great news. We need more council houses and there's no two ways about it. We haven't got enough. Any kind of housing in my ward is welcomed."
