More than 70 council homes are set to be built across Sandwell
More than 70 council homes are set to be built in a Black Country borough, it has been revealed.
Bosses have agreed to buy plots on four development site in Sandwell to bring about a much-needed boost to its housing stock.
The 74 homes, a mixture of houses and apartments, will be located on Dudley Road in Rowley Regis, Clifton Lane in West Bromwich, Simpson Street in Oldbury and Whitehall Road in Great Bridge.
The cash-strapped authority has set aside £74.1 million to build council homes, up until 2018-19 in attempt to reduce the number of people on the council house waiting list.
It follows other home developments on empty land, including a vandal-stricken former car park in Great Bridge, which could also be revived and turned into 50 apartments.
A council document states: "The development of this site will deliver residential accommodation bringing back into use a long term derelict sites, which have been an eyesore for some years.
"It will compliment work being undertaken to regenerate currently vacant sites."
A total of 30 homes, a mixture of two and three bedroom houses and a one bedroom apartment, will be built on the Rowley Regis site.
Ten houses, including two and three bedroom homes, will be built on the West Bromwich site.
The Oldbury site will contain eight one, two and three bedroom homes and 22 homes, including two and three bedroom houses, will be built on the Great Bridge site.
The homes will be of a traditional layout of houses and include some low rise flats.
Rowley Regis councillor Barbara Price said the homes are 'needed' because the council has a 'short list' of council homes.
She said: "It's great news. We need more council houses and there's no two ways about it. We haven't got enough.
"Any kind of housing in my ward is welcomed because it's what we need.
"The council only has a short list of council homes so it's wonderful to know that more will be built for families and other people because at the end of the day it's a roof over their head."
Warwick Homes currently own all the sites besides the Clifton Lane site which Alpha Homes Ltd owns.
A Special Purpose Vehicle Company will be set up to deliver the project.
