New homes are set to be built on a long-neglected parcel of land adjacent to a retail park that has been empty for more than 25 years.
The plot located on Rookery Street, Wednesfield, had been designated for residential and commercial development alongside the establishment of Bentley Bridge Retail Park in the latter part of the 1990s. Yet despite numerous proposals surfacing then disappearing, it has continued to lie unused
However, the City of Wolverhampton Council has now endorsed fresh plans for the site, approving a planning application submitted by Onkar Singh Mattu for the construction of eight two-bedroom houses.
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This approval comes after the council gave the green light last October for the erection of 20 flats on the same site—a project which has since been scrapped as "unviable."
Documentation from the council's planning division describes how these "modern, attractive, high-quality homes" will contribute positively to the rejuvenation of Wednesfield.
The council noted: "This site benefits from a previous, but unimplemented planning permission for a residential apartment development.
"The proposed homes are modern, attractive and of a high-quality design, including satisfactory car and cycle parking facilities, bin stores and private amenity space for residents.
"The site is sustainably located, close-by to services and facilities within Wednesfield village centre and has good access to public transport.
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"The proposed development would not interfere unduly with the proposed highway improvement line.
"The redevelopment of this prominent, vacant and disused site will assist with the regeneration of Wednesfield and provide good quality homes for people."
Back in 1999, Wolverhampton Council gave the green light for a proposal at the site for 24 dwellings and flats, which was later succeeded by the sanction of another scheme involving seven retail units coupled with 19 flats in 2002, followed by approval of a project for 23 flats in 2005.
Yet another blueprint emerged for 32 apartments in 2007 but was later abandoned, and similarly, a design for 22 flats alongside a shop put forward in 2008 was consequently shelved.
A plan finally received consent in 2010 for constructing 22 flats and a retail space; however, this development too never materialised. More than ten years elapsed with no action taken until the council last year agreed to a revised project for 20 flats, a scheme which was later scrapped.