The selection, approved by the council’s Cabinet in July, follows the initial
preferred developer, Legal & General Modular Homes, closing its modular
homes production factory in May.
The council has now finalised Heads of Terms and entered into an exclusivity
agreement with Wavensmere Homes to build more than 500 new homes,
subject to planning approval, at Wolverhampton’s Canalside South – a former
industrial site benefiting from frontage onto the Wyrley & Essington Canal and
the Wolverhampton Branch of the Birmingham Main Line Canal.
The 17-acre waterfront development opportunity sits on the eastern edge of
the city centre and is made up of the Canal & River Trust-owned former Crane
Foundry site, and the Council’s former British Steel site and its land off
Qualcast Road – all brought together to ensure a comprehensive
development takes place.
Strategic real estate advisors, Avison Young, have supported the marketing of
the site.
Wavensmere Homes’ plans are for 384 two-and three-bedroom townhouses
and 140 one-and two-bedroom apartments, designed to target an EPC-A
rated specification. Wavensmere Homes has also put forward plans to
redevelop and reanimate disused railway arches on the site into 7,000 sq ft of
lettable commercial space.
Glancy Nicholls Architects and RPS have been appointed to draw up the
plans, which will be published for public consultation in early 2024. The design
concept for the low-rise development emulates the surrounding conservation
area and maximises both the canalside setting and 4.4 acres of new public
open space.
Developing the Canalside South site will provide an improved connection
between the canal and Wolverhampton city centre, opening up the waterfront
for new and existing communities. The site is also located within a few
minutes’ walk of the heart of the city centre and its award-winning £150m
transport interchange.

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James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “We are
thrilled to be working with City of Wolverhampton Council and the Canal &
River Trust to bring forward this transformational development project.
Canalside South will be the catalyst for a new wave of ambitious city living,
which is vital to see the Wolverhampton Pound spent locally. This scheme will
open up a new walkway to the city core, reducing the previous walk time by
20 minutes and igniting investment into a commercial corridor.
“Our team has a strong history of regenerating vacant land in the Black
Country, and we are ready to transform this site into a £150m landmark
development that the whole region can be immensely proud of. 70% of our
existing supply chain is embedded into the Black Country, and the
construction programme will create more than 100 jobs for local people. We
are delighted with the collaborative way all land partners and stakeholders are
working at pace to deliver change and reanimate this strategic stretch of
canalside land.”
City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “I
am delighted to announce Wavensmere Homes as the new preferred
developer for this large and exciting opportunity at Canalside South.
“Through our Canalside Delivery Partnership with the Canal & River Trust, we
remain determined to bring back to life our brownfield sites on
Wolverhampton’s canal network, which will in turn boost footfall in our city
centre.
“We are confident Wavensmere Homes will bring about a nationally significant
development on what is one of the most historic stretches of canal in the
country.
“It will enable our residents to benefit from superb connectivity, amenities and
health and wellbeing opportunities at this wonderful heritage location.”
Wavensmere Homes plans to future-proof the Canalside South site by
installing electric only heating systems across the site. A range of
technologies will be utilised, consisting of air source heat pumps, solar panels
and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). The proposals for the
site will also feature dedicated EV charging to each home, alongside an array
of EV chargers for visitors.
The multi-award winning national urban regeneration specialist has 3,500
homes on site, or currently in planning. It is in the final phases of the £175m
redevelopment of the former Derby Royal Infirmary – Nightingale Quarter has
brought 925 energy-efficient houses, apartments, and commercial space to
the previously vacant 18.5-acre site in Derby city centre. Wavensmere Homes
is constructing two other major brownfield regeneration schemes, located in
central Birmingham and Ipswich, and has further projects – including four
additional landmark schemes in Derby and Cheltenham – in the immediate
pipeline.

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The overall vision for the Wolverhampton Canalside masterplan is the delivery
of around 1,000 homes to meet both the city and wider region’s housing
needs, with sustainability and place-making at its heart.
Cheryl Blount-Powell, National Property Development Manager at the Canal &
River Trust, added: “We are delighted to be working collaboratively with City
of Wolverhampton Council and Wavensmere Homes to bring forward a
transformational high quality Canalside residential led scheme which will
deliver generous well-connected walkways and public open spaces. The
proposed layout will transform this derelict brownfield land, connecting more
people to the canals and to its rich biodiversity.
“We believe this opportunity has the potential to influence the quality of future
development around our canals and help demonstrate the positive impact that
water has on those who live and use the waterways, encouraging more
people to engage with their local canal and at the same time help support
what we do as a charity and show that life really is better by water.”