First new homes built on site of former eyesore pub in Wolverhampton are ready
Families will soon be handed keys to new homes built on the site of a former eyesore Bilston pub that suffered arson attacks and vandalism.
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The site was previously occupied by the arson-hit former Happy Wanderer pub, in Green Lanes, in Stowlawn, which closed its doors eight years ago due to poor trade.
After a campaign to get the site cleaned up it was demolished by the previous owner in September 2021 and the site made subject to Wolverhampton Council’s Vacant Properties Taskforce work to bring derelict sites back into use.
As a result Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) purchased the plot for affordable rented housing to rent. Contractor Keon Homes has been building 13 two and three-bedroom houses and six one-bedroom flats.
The first nine properties to be completed were this week handed over to the social housing landlord ready for the new tenants to move in by next month.
Mayor of Wolverhampton and Bilston North ward representative Councillor Linda Leach was among those who campaigned for improvements.
She was given a tour of the new homes along with the council's housing chief Councillor Steve Evans who said: “This is a prime example of the work we are doing through our vacant properties taskforce to bring derelict sites back into use to create a better environment for all. Our planners worked hard with the previous owners of this site, encouraging them to make it safe and remove the risk of further anti-social behaviour for the benefit of the local community in Bilston.
“We were delighted to see Black Country Housing Group and Keon Homes come on board to progress the site for much-needed affordable housing and seeing the first completed homes being handed over is great for everyone; supporting residents and boosting the local economy.”
Black Country Housing Group Chief Executive Designate, Adrian Eggington, said: “We are pleased to have built 19 brand new homes in Bilston, Wolverhampton, working in partnership with Keon Homes and City of Wolverhampton Council, supported by grant funding from Homes England.
“The mixture of one, two and three-bedroom affordable rented homes provide high quality, much-needed homes which are highly energy-efficient, giving the new occupiers a comfortable and affordable living experience as well as reducing overall environmental impact. Our new customers are thrilled to be moving in over the next few weeks."
Keon's planning and pre-development manager Jim Woodsford said: “Providing much needed affordable homes on an otherwise redundant site is fantastic news for the area, especially given the site’s previous issues of anti-social behaviour.
“We have worked with the planning team at Wolverhampton Council from an early design inception stage to create a family-friendly development that we can all be proud of. Delivering affordable family homes is at the very heart of what we do at Keon Homes and we hope future residents enjoy the fruits of everyone’s hard work.”
