Work is set to begin to develop housing on the site of the former Cape Hill brewery in Smethwick, which closed its doors in 2003.
The Mitchells & Butlers Brewery, dating from 1878, is to be developed for housing, with preliminary site work starting this month. George Wimpey West Midlands has full planning permission to build 68 new homes at the former brewery.
The new Victoria Gardens development will cover a 3.5 acre site on the northern side of the former brewery. Homes will include 23 one and two-bedroom apartments.
There will also be 16 two-bedroom, two-and-a half-storey homes, 18 three-bedroom semis and mews homes plus 11 four-bedroom homes.
Carol Edwards, George Wimpey West Midlands sales and marketing director said: “The overall vision for Smethwick is to preserve the beautiful Victorian infrastructure, bring the canals backs to life and then link the new communities across them.”
Henry Mitchell moved his operation to Cape Hill in 1878 and about 20 years later went into partnership with William Butler.
After massive expansion
Operations were relocated to Birmingham from where the firm, one of the UK’s largest pub and restaurant operator runs 2,000 pubs and restaurants across the country, including chains, O’Neill’s, and Scream and the All Bar One, Harvester, and Vintage Inns chains.
The land was sold in 2003 for housing development.
Sandwell Council wants to promote canalside developments and living in Smethwick and redevelopment began in the area in the late 1990s with Brindley Village, a £330 million scheme made up of housing, convenience shopping, offices and civic amenities. A sales office is due to open this month.
The building programme is due to start in Januar
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