Work gathers pace to transform land near former Wolverhampton Royal Hospital

The development in front of the old Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton is taking shape, breathing new life into a site which has been neglected for years.

A total of 74 apartments and 18 homes are being built on the former site of the Cleveland Road bus depot in the latest part of an ambitious scheme to upgrade areas in and around the city centre.

And the progress can be clearly seen off the ring road, as this aerial image shows, where diggers and cranes have been operating for more than a year.

The historic Royal Hospital is also to be regenerated and will later be converted into homes for people aged over 55. Much of the iconic building, which dates back to 1848, will be preserved as a nod to its history.

The completed site will also include a large open space and pedestrianised area.

Council chiefs had been keen to transform the site, which is seen as a 'gateway' to the city centre and is among a number of projects which are either under way or have been earmarked for the coming years.

Others include rebuild of the train station and extension of the metro line, the new i9 office complex and the pedestrianisation of large swathes of the city centre.

Cannock-based Jessup will be working with Walsall-based whg on both the Cleveland Road and Royal Hospital projects.

Homes England made the development possible by buying the site and carrying out extensive works, including the demolition of the former bus depot, to make way for new homes.

The new homes at the front of the site will be for sale, shared ownership and affordable rent.