The transformation of acres of wasteland in Walsall is under way, with 130 homes being created. The foundations for the houses and flats are being laid at four different sites in Bentley.

Some of the homes are being built on land in Western Avenue formerly occupied by Fairview Court and Grange Court, which were demolished in 2007. The other sites include a former clinic and Old Hall pub in Churchill Road, and in Cunningham Road where the garage once was.

The scheme is being spearheaded by Walsall Housing Group (WHG) along with Concept Development Solutions Ltd.

It will consist of 11 two-bedroom houses, 10 three-bedroom houses, five four-bedroom houses, 36 two-bedroom apartments, eight two-bedroom bungalows and 60 homes for the over 55s.

It is being funded by WHG, the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency and VIEW, the regeneration fund jointly managed by WHG and Walsall Council, to the tune of more than £16 million.

Work on the former clinic and Cunningham Road sites is due to be completed in August this year while the Western Avenue work is set to be finished by January 2010.

Sixty homes for people aged over 55, along with five family homes, will be built on the site of the Old Hall pub.

The pub had to be bulldozed in 2007 after a fire ripped through the first floor of th derelict building in a suspected arson attack. Before the blaze in October families living nearby had complained about yobs gathering at the former drinking spot repeatedly wrecking it. The entire project is aimed to be finished by October 2010.

WHG regeneration manager Alan Watts said: “Our aim is to regenerate Bentley and these four schemes will do just that. We have consulted with residents and there is certainly a strong feeling among the community that these developments will be a welcome addition to the area.”