Apartments plan for historic former factory

The historic Eagle Works building on the corner of Great Brickkiln Street and Alexandra Street, close to the city centre, is now largely empty except for an artists’ studio at the front and a car repair workshop to the rear.

Since it was built more than 100 years ago the three-storey property has been home to the Reliance Hemp and Flax Mill and also housed a mattress and textile factory, a bicycle factory and a brass and gun metal foundry.

Much of the building, which was locally listed in 2001, is unoccupied and falling into disrepair, with the upper floors infested with rodents.

Eagle Works Wolverhampton Ltd has now applied to convert the premises into a mixture of self-contained one, two and three-bedroom apartments and studio flats.

The property is located approximately a third of a mile from the city centre, close to Sainsbury’s in Raglan Street, near Penn Road, and The Gym Wolverhampton adjacent to the supermarket.

The application is for 38 two-bedroom apartments, five one-bedroom apartments, four studio flats and one three-bedroomed apartment.

In addition, plans allow for 45 parking spaces at the rear of the building with vehicle access from the street. CCTV will also be fitted in all communal areas and in the car park.

In a statement accompanying the plans, Andy Law of Sedgley-based architectural services and development consultants Complete Design, said: “The building is predominantly three storeys in height and is brick built. Roofs are covered with corrugated sheeting and windows are a mixture of cast iron and timber.

“Originally it was created as a Victorian industrial building that was constructed in at least two phases.

“Further single storey extensions have been added to the rear which were constructed using dwarf brickworks walls with sheeted roofs. These additions have no architectural merit or resemblance to the original buildings. Historically the building has had various uses.

“Currently an artists studio occupies a small area within the wing fronting Alexandra Street and a car repair workshop operates from the single storey extensions to the rear of the building.

“All other parts of the building are unoccupied and are falling into disrepair.

The upper floors are also infested with rodents due to failures of the roof covering,” added the statement.

“To the rear of the building the existing extensions will be demolished and removed by a specialist contractor. A three-storey rear extension will be constructed to the building fronting Alexandra Street.”