Preparation work has started this week for the building of the first new council homes as part of a major transformation of the city’s Heath Town estate.

Site surveys and investigations are underway as regeneration specialist ENGIE prepares to start construction work in June.

A mixture of 40, two-bedroom and four-bedroom council houses will be built across three sites on Hobgate Road and one site on Tithe Croft, off Chervil Rise.

They will mark the first phase of a total of up to 200 new homes to be built for rent and sale on the estate over the coming years, with the council set to develop nine sites in total.

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

All of the new homes will have their own car parking space provided and the majority will come with gardens. This first phase of the new development is due to be completed by Autumn 2022.

Councillor Jacqueline Sweetman, Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “It’s great to see ENGIE on site this week carrying out the essential surveys and investigations. The development on the Heath Town estate will bring a real change to our city.

“The new homes will offer a wider choice of quality housing for our residents and I am pleased that we have a summer start date for this major development programme for Wolverhampton.

“I look forward to the first bricks being laid and seeing the brand new development offer a welcoming home for many people.”

Lee Stoneystreet, Regional Director at ENGIE’s Places and Communities division, said: “We are pleased to be continuing our successful partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, following on from our recent completion of 40 new affordable homes at Burton Crescent.

“We are really looking forward to bringing our expertise to this development and creating a community that local people can be proud of.”

Other completed works as part of the development include the demolition of walkways and garages in the Hobgate Road area of the estate, the disconnection and re-routing of the district heating pipework, 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.