The first new council homes are springing out of the ground at two small derelict brownfield sites in Wolverhampton.

City of Wolverhampton Council appointed contractor Morro Partnerships Limited to build eight bungalows at the ‘Magic Gardens’ site off Sandmere Rise in Bushbury and 11 houses on Ettingshall Road in Bilston.

The new ‘A’ Rated, gas-free homes with solar panels, are being constructed using sustainable building methods and, following three months of ground works, the timber frames are now being installed at both sites.

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.

The council’s housing development team is leading the project, and all the homes will be available for affordable rent, with construction across both sites expected to be complete by summer 2025.

The eight bungalows and 11 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.

‘Magic Gardens’ was historically used for organised recreational community activities but has been unused since around 2011.

The development of seven two-bedroom houses, two three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses at Ettingshall Road will bring back into use land that has been blighted by fly-tipping in recent years.

Councillor Steve Evans, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, said: “One of our key priorities is to increase the number of good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods across the city.

“Works are progressing well at both sites and will deliver a variety of housing types for our council homes portfolio.

“It is also another example of the council’s brownfield land-first strategy bringing small disused sites back into use for the benefit of our residents and communities.

“Sustainability in build and fostering thriving communities is important to us, so our collaboration with Morro Partnerships assures both us and our future residents that their homes are future-proofed in a great location.”

Tom Broadway, Managing Director at Morro Partnerships, said: “We’re pleased to have made such great progress on these much-needed homes, and to be contributing towards the increased demand for affordable housing across the city.

“Sustainability is a key part of our pledges to be better community makers and better environment makers, and to be helping to make housing more affordable, accessible and equipped for the future is rewarding.

“We’re looking forward to completing construction at these two important developments and watching them blossom into thriving communities.”

The developments will be supported by Homes England grants totalling a £1,315,000.