‘Tired’ Wolverhampton flats to get major facelift
High-rise flats in Heath Town will undergo a major refurbishment as part of the continued regeneration of the area.
Five blocks will be fitted with modern cladding, insulation and new entrance lobbies.
The upgrades form part of the latest investment to help improve the area's fortunes and come after outdated tower blocks were bulldozed in March.
Work will be carried out to improve the appearance of Lincoln House, Tremont House, Hawthorne House, Ling House, Red Oak House and forms the third phase of Wolverhampton's Heath Town regeneration masterplan.
The current tired brown-brick exteriors will be covered with cladding, with each block to be decked out in different colours.
Structural repairs will also be carried out and doors and windows replaced, under new proposals submitted to planning bosses.
A report submitted with the plans said the flats had steadily deteriorated over the years and now had a 'tired, outdated appearance compared with the developing area'. There are also 'existing structural issues' that need to be addressed.
Heath Town is undergoing a major transformation as part of a scheme to rejuvenate the area and make it more attractive. The tower blocks at Chervil Rise were knocked down to make way for 380 homes.
Ward councillor Milkinder Jaspal said: "This is the next stage of the regeneration of the estate and that's to be welcomed.
"The cladding in particular is to be welcomed as they do get cold in the winter. It will improve the area and when you come up Wednesfield Road you will see that great improvement on the landscape.
"This will improve the housing stock and the quality of life for tenants."
The new homes, which will have parking, will be for both sale and rent and include new council properties.
Walkways and garages were demolished in the Hobgate Road area during phase one of the project, which began in November.
Sprinklers will also be fitted at all high-rise blocks across Wolverhampton at a cost of nearly £20 million following the Grenfell fire tragedy.
Council bosses ruled earlier this year that sprinklers were needed despite the huge cost in order to protect tenants.
