Pictured above: (l-r) Bill Oliver, chief executive of St.
Modwen, Councillor Peter Bilson and Mike Farley, chief executive of
Persimmon plc at the Goodyear site
The £150 million mixed use redevelopment of the 88-acre
former Goodyear Works site in Wolverhampton is gathering pace with
two major milestones reached by regeneration specialist St. Modwen
and the joint venture residential partner, Persimmon plc.
Construction is due to commence 31st May on the first 314 new
homes which range from one to four bedrooms and are being delivered
as part of a joint venture between St. Modwen and housebuilder,
Persimmon plc. The first homes are expected to be available for
sale in August 2011.
June will see the practical completion by St. Modwen of the
development's 17,000 sq ft Aldi food store, including a new access
road. The store is expected to open in July, creating around 20
full and part time jobs.
Bill Oliver, chief executive of St. Modwen, said: "We are
delighted to be making such progress on the redevelopment of this
landmark Wolverhampton site. The construction process alone
for Aldi created over 50 new jobs and, once open, the foodstore
will deliver further long-term job opportunities to the area, while
also supporting both the existing and new residential community.
Our joint venture with Persimmon plc is helping us to deliver a
sustainable new community to Wolverhampton and we are delighted
with the advances which we have already made in partnership to
bring the scheme forward."
The approved residential planning application for the Goodyear
site was the first to be made as part of a joint venture between
St. Modwen and Persimmon plc established in August 2010. 2,000
homes - with an end value of £300 million - will be built on
seven St. Modwen-owned sites across the UK over the next five
years.
Mike Farley, chief executive of Persimmon plc added: "We are
delighted that works can now commence on the site to create a new
community which will bring much needed housing and amenities to the
area. The scheme will play a vital part in the regeneration of
Wolverhampton, boosting the local economy on many levels by
creating valuable job opportunities, in particular for local
tradesmen. After months of preparation and planning, the build
programme can start and we expect homes to be available for sale in
August."
Once completed, the Goodyear development will include 21,000 sq
ft of neighbourhood retail facilities and some 40 acres of new
homes. 18 acres of the 88 acre regeneration scheme remains occupied
by manufacturer Goodyear.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet
member for economic regeneration and prosperity said: "The City
Council is delighted that the housing element of this ambitious
scheme is getting underway. This is a site in need of development
and the Council has worked closely with the developers to assist
them during the planning process and to get to a stage when the
building can begin. In March, the Council agreed to alter a
condition of the original planning consent to ensure that this
development would be commercially viable and could
go-ahead."
Bordered by Stafford Road in Wolverhampton, the Goodyear
regeneration scheme is a short drive from junction 2 of the M54 and
Wolverhampton city centre.