National property and construction consultancy Wakemans is overseeing remediation works at the former Goodyear factory site in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, which will pave the way for phase one of a major new residential development.

Wakemans is acting as employer's agent and cost consultant on behalf of West Midlands-based developer and regeneration specialist St. Modwen Properties plc. 

The buildings have already been demolished and the site cleared so the remediation, which extends to around a third of the 85-acre site, involves removing the old foundations and cleaning the soil to a depth of two metres.

Wakemans is currently out to tender on a spine road, which will eventually form an estate road serving the first phase of 100 new homes, including a proportion of affordable housing. 

The regeneration of the landmark Goodyear site will be completed in several stages as the residential aspects of the development will be completed by different housebuilders.  There are also plans for a new school - to replace Oxley Primary - and a public park, while Goodyear is retaining 17 acres, which it will let from St. Modwen.

Work on the first phase of residential development is expected to commence before the end of this year along with the construction of an 18,000 sq ft supermarket for budget chain Aldi, which will be located inside a 'neighbourhood centre' comprising four further retail units. 

"St. Modwen specialises in reclaiming this kind of industrial site and the residential scheme will not only be a welcome shot in the arm as far as the ongoing regeneration of Wolverhampton is concerned, but will also help to kickstart wider development of the Goodyear site by making it a more commercially attractive proposition for housebuilders," says Wakemans director Seinde Balogun.