800 homes give new life to Wednesbury sewage works

The properties would be constructed on land near to Friar Park and Bescot which has been derelict for more than 50 years.

Officials from Sandwell Council said the proposed scheme would create much-needed new housing the borough.

It follows the announcement earlier this week of plans by supermarket giant Lidl to open a new distribution centre in Wednesbury which is expected to create 500 jobs.

Councillors will discuss the new homes plan at a meeting of the authority's cabinet on April 1.

A total of 780 homes will be built as part of the scheme.

A report says reclamation costs on the site, which is part owned by the council and Midlands Land Portfolio Limited, were previously considered too expensive for development to take place at the site.

But that is no longer the case due to advances in land reclamation technology.

If approved, the report recommends up to 10 per cent of the housing built on the site will be a mix of high-quality affordable housing and the rest will be developed for owner occupation.

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said the development would be a major boost to the borough as a whole.

"It is reported there is a housing shortage in this country and a demand for affordable homes," he said.

"I am delighted that at long last this undeveloped site will be used for good-quality housing.

"It is great to know the announcement comes on the back of Lidl's recent commitment to Sandwell with its plans to open a new distribution centre also in Wednesbury."

Both the land owned by Sandwell Council and the adjoining land owned by Midlands Land Portfolio Limited, wholly-owned subsidiary of Severn Trent PLC, would be sold to a currently unidentified residential developer for the scheme.

Reclamation proposals would include the creation of an environmental, acoustic and visual barrier to separate the proposed residential development from the adjoining railway and the elevated section of M6 between junctions eight and nine.

Bosses from Lidl announced the plan for a 450,000sq ft distribution centre earlier this week. It will be built near to junction nine of the M6.

Officials from the retail giant said the centre would spearhead its expansion and serve stores across the entire region.

It will create both managerial and office-based jobs in addition to full-time warehouse roles operating on a three-shift basis, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Bosses from the council said the proposed development would boost the area's economy.