Plans for 250 homes finally fully approved for old Caparo site in Walsall
Long-awaited plans to build 250 homes on an old factory site in Walsall have been given the green light by councillors.
Walsall Council’s planning committee gave the thumbs up to the proposal to redevelop land next to the A34 in Old Birchills where the former Caparo engineering works once stood.
There will be a total of 252 properties constructed on the land – which has been empty for more than a decade – made up of a mixture of flats and houses.
A total of 45 four-bedroom, 91 three-bedroom and 66 two-bedroom homes will sit alongside two blocks of 30 two-bedroom and 20 one-bedroom apartments.
The 16.5-acre site has been earmarked for housing since the old steelworks was demolished between 2007 and 2009 but despite several proposals being lodged, none have come to fruition.
Caparo submitted plans for a housing estate to be built on the site back in 2011 and outline planning permission was eventually granted in October 2019 after a decision was delayed late in 2018.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said in 2018 that the plans would be "supercharged" thanks to Government funding for housing.
The West Midlands Combined Authority, that Mr Street leads, then listed the land as one of its key brownfield sites to turn into housing and in February announced a deal to pump millions of pounds into cleaning it up ready for redevelopment.
That ambition has now moved a step closer after members of Walsall’s planning committee unanimously voted in favour of the plan, subject to conditions.
Bosses say the scheme by Walsall Housing Group and Lovell Partnership will create jobs and apprenticeships during the construction phase as well as providing much-needed housing.
The report to committee said: “The principle of redevelopment for residential purposes has previously been accepted by planning committee.
“The layout is practical and would create a positive environment for future occupiers without impacting negatively on the amenity of the surrounding area.
“The redevelopment of this derelict site for residential purposes considered to offer an improvement to the area and will have a positive impact on the adjacent heritage assets.”
