City of Wolverhampton Council’s Heath Town regeneration scheme will later this month (March) complete the construction of the first new council homes on the estate since it was officially opened by HRH Princess Margaret in 1969.

It forms part of a major transformation of the estate, which has seen an extensive demolition programme of vacant buildings, existing residential blocks undergo major improvements by Wolverhampton Homes, and the creation of three new play areas and a football pitch.

A mixture of 40, two-bedroom and four-bedroom council houses are being built across three sites on Hobgate Road and one site on Tithe Croft, off Chervil Rise, by energy and regeneration specialist Equans.

The first 18 homes on Hobgate Road are due to be completed at the end of this month and will then be handed over to Wolverhampton Homes to manage, with a view to the first tenants moving in.

They mark the first phase of a total of more than 200 new homes to be built on the estate over the coming years, with the council set to develop nine sites in total.

All of the new homes will have their own car parking space and the majority will come with gardens.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “This is a historic milestone in our transformation of Heath Town and it is wonderful to see these first new council homes completed.

“One of our key priorities is to increase the number good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods across the city.

“This development will certainly help us achieve that and I am looking forward to seeing the first tenants moving into these fantastic new homes.”

Paul Gethin, Head of Operations at Equans, added: “It is a pleasure to unveil the first new homes at Heath Town and to see the area take on a new lease of life.

“We’re really proud to bring our community regeneration expertise to this project and to continue our partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council to build desirable, affordable housing.”

Other works already completed as part of the redevelopment include the demolition of walkways and garages in the Hobgate Road area of the estate and the refurbishment of the ground and lower ground floors of Ling House to provide new office, meeting and activity space for Hope Family Centre.

The Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plan was one of the main drivers for the remodelling of the estate.  Residents, consulted through the neighbourhood planning process, prioritised new affordable family homes as well as play areas and improved security.

Image caption 1 (L-R): John Roseblade, City of Wolverhampton Council Director of Resident Services, Paul Gethin, Head of Operations at Equans, Cllr Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, and Jenny Lewington, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Director of City Housing

Image caption 2: Members of City of Wolverhampton Council’s housing team and Equans in front of the new council homes at Hobgate Road, Heath Town