Express & Star

Approval given for work on multi-million pound Bilston Urban Village

A multi-million pound masterplan to build hundreds of homes for a new community has been given the green light.

Published
A vision of the housing development on Bilston Urban Village

More than 400 homes will spring up on land earmarked for Bilston Urban Village after Wolverhampton Council's planning committee approved plans on Tuesday.

It comes as work to relocate Loxdale Primary School to its new home on the 27-acre site finally began this week.

Councillor Mike Hardacre, chairman of the planning committee, said: "I do welcome it. We welcome it for the good of the city, for the good of Bilston.

"We hope that those who move into these homes in the future will, in the words of Star Trek, live long and prosper."

The £175 million plans will see the major development transform land south of Bilston town centre and the Black Country Route.

Housebuilder Countryside has been named as the developer for the site off Coseley Road after it was granted permission to begin enabling works in August.

Families

Families have already moved into a development of 78 one, two, three and four-bedroom properties at two other plots after construction group Kier completed its work near Carder Crescent.

Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for city economy, said: "The development of almost 500 homes on the Bilston Urban Village site will make a significant impact in achieving our housing targets in Wolverhampton.

“The programme is more than that though. It is about creating a sustainable place where people want to live and work. The council has spent a lot of time making sure there is good road access and ensured that the new housing will be well connected to the town centre with a bus-only link, cycleways, pedestrian routes and green spaces.

"The urban village is a key part of the wider regeneration of the city, bringing new homes, new jobs and more investment. It demonstrates our commitment to Bilston and ensures it will continue to be a thriving area.”

Countryside also agreed to help pay for the relocation of Loxdale Primary School from its current Chapel Street base to a new purpose-built building on land between Dudley Street and Bankfield Road.

Breaking ground ahead of work to build the new Loxdale Primary School

Developers Bowmer & Kirkland will carry out the work as part of the council's school expansion plans, with the school expected to be ready by next September.

The move will help tackle a shortfall of places across the city and meet demand for extra places from Bilston Urban Village - with reception class admissions set to double to 60 each year.

Loxdale Primary School headteacher Patricia Scott said: “The children, parents, governors and staff of Loxdale Primary school are all very excited and proud to be part of such a fantastic venture, where we will continue to have the privileged opportunity to work together to shape and develop the future citizens of Bilston in a brand new, purpose-built facility.

“This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, where our school and its children will continue to grow together in this bold new chapter of Loxdale’s history.”

Decade

Plans to bring the Bilston Urban Village to life have been in the making for more than a decade.

About £45m has already been invested to build the new Bilston-Bert Williams leisure centre, as well as the South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy at the site.

A commercial development plot fronting the Black Country Route and the newly-named Bert Turner Boulevard linking the site with the town centre was also created.

Marston's family pub the White Rabbit has opened at the site, which will be connected by about 14 hectares of land earmarked for public open space and nature conservation.

Councillor Lynne Moran, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Demand for places in our schools has increased significantly in recent years, showing people want to live and be educated in our growing city.

“Despite the successful creation of over 2,500 additional primary school places since 2012, further expansion is required and the development of the new Loxdale Primary School has an important role to play in meeting the needs of our growing population."