YMCA moving into historic SJ Dixon paint firm base in the heart of Wolverhampton
More affordable homes are being built next to a landmark building in Wolverhampton - and the YMCA is to expand its presence in the city centre
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Mayor Richard Parker visited the historic former SJ Dixon & Son premises on Cleveland Road on Thursday (February 13), which is being developed into 93 social homes after planning permission was awarded in August of last year.
The properties will be managed by Walsall Housing Group Limited(Whg) and the YMCA.
It is the third social housing scheme the Mayor has invested in since Christmas in a bid to build thousands of new social homes across the region.
The adjacent Dixon House, which was built in 1885 and was once home to paint firm S.J. Dixon & Son’s, is meanwhile being converted into 30 specialist social rented flats for the YMCA Black Country Group.
S.J. Dixon & Son’s was established in 1854 as a paint and wallpaper company and had been based at Cleveland Road since 1960. It has now moved to a new base in the former Buck and Hickman site in Cooper Street.
And now, it has been revealed that a further 63 social rent homes are also being built by Morro Partnerships for Whg right next to the Dixon House flats.
The area forms part of the proposed multi-million pound ‘Royal Quarter’ in Wolverhampton. This includes plans to convert the former Royal Hospital site, empty since 1997, into apartments for the over-55s.
Mr Parker said: "Too many people in the West Midlands don’t have a safe, affordable place to call home.
"They deserve better and that’s why I’m committed to building thousands of new social and affordable homes.
"This is the third social housing scheme I’ve backed since December, delivering 485 new social and affordable homes, including 337 homes for social rent, for those communities that need them most.
"I'm making sure we build at the scale needed to tackle the housing crisis, working with Homes England and local partners to deliver the biggest social housing programme this region has seen in decades - changing thousands of lives for the better."
This phase of the 'Royal Quarter' development is being supported by a combined multi-million-pound investment by Homes England, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which is chaired by the Mayor, Whg and YMCA Black Country
Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Strong collaborative working has seen a major transformation of the Royal Quarter, and we are delighted to be supporting partners to bring forward the development of this final phase.
“It brings back into use a historic derelict building and will provide vital social and affordable housing for our residents in line with our city housing strategy to help local people secure good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods.”
Matt Moore, CEO of Morro Partnerships, added: "This development exemplifies what we can achieve when partners come together with a shared vision.
"...Together, we’re delivering more than housing, we’re delivering hope and opportunity."
