Construction work has started on the development of 11 new council homes in Bilston.

City of Wolverhampton Council has appointed contractor Morro Partnerships to build the new ‘A’ Rated, gas-free homes with solar panels, on the site of the dilapidated former Bilston tennis club in Villiers Avenue.

Following clearance works, the development of nine two-bedroom and two three-bedroom houses will bring the land back into use and enhance the area.

The council’s housing development team is leading the project, and the mix of detached and semi-detached homes will be available for affordable rent, with construction expected to be complete by Spring 2026.

To mitigate for the loss of the tennis courts £40,000 has been allocated to improve tennis courts at East Park.

The houses form part of the latest phase of new council homes coming forward across the city, with development works underway or set to start in the coming months on 81 properties across six sites.

Morro Partnerships builds with sustainability in mind, with the Bilston development adopting a timber frame construction throughout.

The carbon footprint of a timber frame is less than traditional structures, and this modern method of construction also helps to reduce energy consumption, helping to keep residents’ bills to a minimum.

This is consistent with Morro’s pipeline of affordable homes across the Midlands, as part of their commitment to being better environment and community-makers.

The development will be supported by a £620,000 grant from Homes England.

Councillor Steve Evans, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, said: “This is a great example of the council’s strategy to bring small disused sites back into use for the benefit of our residents and communities.

“There is an increasing demand for housing and this forms part of our pipeline of new council properties we are developing to deliver more good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods across the city.

“Residents will not only benefit from these future-proofed homes, they will also reap the rewards of the significant investment already made in Bilston in recent years that is seeing the town flourish.”

Tom Broadway, Managing Director at Morro Partnerships, said: “Supporting sustainable and affordable housing projects is at the very heart of what we do at Morro.

“These high-quality, energy efficient homes will not only provide more choice for Bilston residents but leave a lasting positive impact on the surrounding area. It’s great to step into spring with construction well underway, and by this next time next year, we will be preparing final handovers and starting to see people move in.

“This project is testament to what can be achieved through community collaboration, and we are pleased to be working with City of Wolverhampton Council on this site and look forward to continuing to grow this partnership.”