Housing plan for old Caparo site wins new backing
Plans to build more than 250 homes on the former Caparo site are expected to be pushed through in quick time after winning the support of West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
Mr Street said the development would be ‘supercharged’ thanks to a £350 million housing deal from the Government.
The site in Birchills was put on the market after its owners applied for planning permission for 252 homes.
Both the owners and local politicians are keen to see it transformed soon. The proposals are expected to go before councillors in October.
The plans were lodged by Caparo before the firm went bust and now agent Harris Lamb is handling the application.
Mr Street said: “Plans are coming forward for up to 252 homes on the former Caparo factory in Birchills, Walsall.
"With the £350m Housing Deal from Government we are able to supercharge the building of homes, the cleaning up of derelict sites and the regeneration of our region.”
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said he hoped work would be able to start soon if the scheme is given the green light.
He said: “The owners want to move it on and bring forward the plans for 250 houses.
“It has still got to go to planning and more importantly if there is contamination on the site they will be looking to get a grant from the combined authority. It is a big industrial site so there has got to be decontamination.
“It is one of the prime sites identified for residential properties that will help satisfy demand for housing in the Black Country. We need to find sites for 215,000 houses in the West Midlands.”
The 16.5-acre site, accessed from Green Lane and Old Birchills Lane, has stood empty following the manufacturer’s decision to consolidate operations in Oldbury.
The factory was demolished between 2007 and 2009.
