Masterplan for 350 new homes in Cradley Heath receives £300k cash boost
Work on hundreds of new homes to transform a former industrial estate will start later this year – with crucial funding set to be secured.
Around 350 homes will be built at Woods Lane, Cradley Heath, near the town’s train station.
Part of the site has already been cleared but extra funding is needed to bulldoze remaining factory units and allow the ambitious scheme to be completed.
The masterplan to transform the industrial area into a housing estate was first revealed two years ago.
The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has signalled it is ready to award £300,000 of extra funding to allow a stamping press unit to be demolished.
Demolition
The award of the extra funds will accelerate the demolition process and ensure it will completed by September, paving the way for work on the homes to begin.
The LEP has been advised to approve the extra funding at a meeting on Monday.
Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling said the development was a ‘complicated’ scheme, which would take time to deliver.
He said: “It involves the clearance of redundant industrial buildings that have been there for decades and the land reclamation required before we can get the house building under way.
“Some industrial premises have been cleared but there is still more to do. It is extremely important in getting the whole development kick-started.
“It will be a big plus for Cradley Heath to have that dereliction cleared and positive for the whole area.”
LEP members are eager for the project to get off the ground but have warned they are unwilling to award any more funding towards it following the latest donation.
