Major £100m redevelopment of contaminated site in Walsall moves ahead
A major £100 million redevelopment of a hugely contaminated site in Walsall will move a step closer when the next phase of works is agreed.
HBD, Walsall Council and Homes England are looking to secure permission to create the internal road infrastructure that will serve the Phoenix 10 scheme off Reservoir Place.
A clean-up operation is currently underway on the site and is expected to be completed next year. Walsall Council deputy leader Adrian Andrew said this work was progressing well.
Following the clearance, it is proposed to create 620,000 square feet of employment land which will help create 1,000 new jobs in the area.
The site was formerly home to James Bridge Copper Works, which closed in 1999, and has sat derelict for more than 20 years.
The land is riddled with gases and contaminants from previous industrial uses although it is not currently harmful to those in the surrounding area.
After years of trying to get the site clean, a deal was struck between property developer HBD, Walsall Council and Homes England to transform the 44-acre site with funding being provided by the partners as well as Black Country LEP and West Midlands Combined Authority.
In an application to Walsall Council planning officers, agents Quod said the initial spine road infrastructure represented the first phase of works for the main development of the site.
They said: “The road will provide vehicular access and other infrastructure to each of the development plots on the main body of the site.
“This will create a series of serviced plots available for development in a phased manner.
“This first phase of work is the next crucial step towards delivery of new development and jobs on this site which is of huge benefit to the local area and wider sub-region.”
When plans were agreed to start clearing the site, Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said: “It is the most contaminated site in Europe.
“I’ve been fighting this one for more than 20 years and we managed to secure money from the Combined Authority and the HCA to enable this to come forward.
“Phoenix 10 is what we called it because it was coming out of the ashes and all I can say is I’ll be glad when its done.”
And Walsall Labour group leader Aftab Nawaz added: “The benefit, not only to the area but the borough as a whole, is massive.
“It not only cleans up contaminated land, some of the work that will go on there is long awaited, it’s a great opportunity for the area.”
A decision on the plans for the road infrastructure is expected later this month.
