Work starting on new housing estate next to Wednesfield High School
Work is starting on building a new housing estate on land next to a high school in Wolverhampton.
Land is being cleared next to Wednesfield High School to create the new 266-home estate.
The site, in Lakefield Road, is being landscaped ready for the work, which has been in the planning stages for a number of months.
Building of the new homes will begin shortly.
The new development follows the completion of a number of other houses that have already been built in the area in the past few years.
WV Living will be building a mixture of two, three and four-bedroomed homes on the site – formerly part of Wednesfield High School – along with a selection of apartments.
Wednesfield South Councillor Greg Brackenridge said: “The homes will be private and affordable housing schemes.
“Local councillors were keen to ensure that the residents in the surrounding area had robust consultation on this development before it got under way.
“In addition to the legal consultation, four public meetings were held at Wednesfield Community Centre with more than 100 residents attending.
“Among the issues raised were concerns over a lack of local medical provisions in the area, the pressure of school places – particularly at primary level, flooding issues, the privacy of residents in nearby March End Road and the overall impact of traffic on Lakefield Road itself.
“Discussions have been held with various agencies as a result and the medical practice in Alfred Squire Road has just had a planning application granted to expand.
“There are also plans for a new ‘attenuation basin’ – which is similar to a pond – near the sub-station on March End Road, which will help add to the wildlife corridor along the local canal.
“New trees will be planted as privacy screens in between existing homes and the new homes, and the former village primary school site on Lichfield Road is also being earmarked for a new primary school development.
“Demand for housing is increasing right across the UK and local councillors, working in conjunction with public agencies, have sought to resolve all the issues raised by local residents with success in many areas resulting in an increase in local services provision.
“I welcome the new housing development as it will inject further life into our already very vibrant village."
By Joe Sweeney
Local Democracy Reporter
