Bungalows plan for ‘Magic Garden’ site in Wolverhampton
A former 'magic' community space in Wolverhampton which has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour is to be transformed into new homes.
Wolverhampton Homes has been given the go-ahead to create eight new two-bedroom bungalows on the Magic Gardens site in Leacroft Avenue in Bushbury Hill.
In their application to Wolverhampton Council planners, the developers said the scheme would add to the supply of affordable housing stock available.
The old open space was used for pre-arranged activities for the community, with the gates locked at all other times.
But it hasn’t been used for a number of years and has become overgrown and in a poor state, becoming a target for anti-social behaviour.
Wolverhampton Homes said the new bungalows would keep in character with the rest of the surrounding area.
Agents Michael Dyson Associates said: “The Magic Gardens site, Bushbury Hill, is a small, unused recreational site managed by Wolverhampton Homes which has never been open unrestricted to the public and was previously managed by the local community, as a recreational facility where supervised activity took place.
“The site has been unused for around eight years and has fallen into disuse. It has attracted anti-social behaviour and is seen as a nuisance to local residents.
“There are no shortages of recreational open space in the Bushbury area and there is a significantly larger expanse of recreational open space, to the north of the site at Sandy Lane, which has open access.
“There are, however, some shortfalls in the quality of green space in the area.
“The constrained and semi-enclosed nature of the Magic Gardens site and its attraction of anti-social behaviour make the site unsuitable for alternative open space functions.
“It is to be noted that the community will not losing public open space due to the development of this site.
“Access to Magic Gardens was limited and conditional only available during an event/activity held on site. At all other times access was restricted and controlled by locked gates.
“The site will be used for to introduce bungalow dwellings which is appropriate in this residential area.
“The proposed development is a sustainable approach to regenerating this vacant site, bringing it back into use and increasing housing stock.
“The site has been used to its full capacity to provide as much affordable housing as possible, whilst being respective of neighbouring properties, on what is currently a vacant site.”
