Former hospital to be bulldozed for homes in Wordsley
A run-down former hospital will finally be torn down to make way for more than 100 homes.
Ridge Hill Hospital in Wordsley has been derelict for years and developers have now been given the green light to bring in the bulldozers.
The site already has planning permission for 129 homes and the demolition of the hospital will bring the development a step closer.
Part of the hospital has already been knocked down Dudley Council has given permission for the remaining buildings to be cleared.
They include the Keeling Centre and former nurses accommodation blocks.
The decision will come as a relief to residents living near the site who have long called for action over the derelict hospital buildings due to their run-down appearance and the fact they have become a magnet for arsonists and vandals.
There have been several bids to put homes on the site since the hospital closed more than a decade ago, but none have yet come to fruition.
Once demolition is complete, preparatory works will be carried out on the site while the search is launched for developer is chosen to build the homes. Planning agents Cushman and Wakefield said the work would be 'managed to limit the impact on neighbours'.
Wordsley councillor Matt Rogers said he was pleased the development was finally moving forward but that he hoped concerns over an increase in traffic would be addressed.
He said: "I welcome any new housing development to meet the needs for the shortage of housing. It's great that new families and younger families can move to the area.
"I have expressed concerns about traffic. The Brierley Hill Road is already saturated. Hopefully they can put traffic lights in there or some sort of traffic measures to help with the traffic flow."
He added: "We have had antisocial behaviour in the area and it will be good to have some new life in the site."
Documents submitted with the plans said: "The outline permission for residential redevelopment will support housing growth and the effective use of previously developed brownfield land.
"The site is previously developed land and has been vacant for a number of years. The proposed demolition work will remove existing buildings which are secure the site in advance of the permitted outline being delivered.
"Works will be managed to limit impact on neighbours. The proposed development will not have any significant detrimental impacts on the surrounding area."
