New wellbeing centre and housing proposal set to be approved by council
Plans to create a modern health and wellbeing facility alongside new homes on the site of a former training centre in Wolverhampton are set to be approved by city council bosses.
The council-owned site of the old Oxley Day Training Centre – currently a vacant asset – is subject to ongoing anti-social behaviour and holding costs and has been earmarked as ideal for development.
A feasibility study for the Probert Road scheme has already been undertaken with a view to an outline planning application being submitted later this year, following further talks with stakeholders and public consultation with the local community.
Cabinet members have already given recommendations for the proposal, which will go before a meeting of full council next Wednesday (April 6).
Around 12,600 people live in the Oxley ward and the city’s health and social care economy faces significant challenges to service a population of 280,000 with relatively high levels of deprivation and long-term health conditions.
The residential accommodation proposal will include an opportunity for key worker housing and affordable living.
The proposal allows for a mix of 34 housing units across the site, including apartments and town houses.
Mark Taylor, the council’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “This is an ambitious proposal that makes use of a brownfield site that is no longer in use.
“It will provide invaluable health and wellbeing services for the local community and will also help deliver more and better homes in Oxley.”
The local NHS and the council are addressing these challenges through a partnership approach with health and social care partners across the Black Country.
Funding for the project is expected to come from a mixture of grants, subject to confirmation of successful bids and prudential borrowing.
After the proposal goes before full council next week, planning consent approval is expected in October with construction work beginning in April 2023.
