Building work has started on a multi-million pound scheme to transform Walsall’s Waterfront with new homes, shops, offices and better links with the town centre.

An official launch was held yesterday at the Waterfront South site near Charles Street attended by officials including housing minister and minister for the West Midlands Ian Austin MP.

Pupils from Birchills Primary School were also on hand to bury a time capsule of their thoughts and drawings of life in Walsall for future generations to discover.

The project is the £15 million  first phase of what is planned to be a complete makeover of the canalside over the coming years creating hundreds of jobs.

A total of 158 new homes will be built as part of Jessup’s first phase as well as a string of new shops and offices and a model was also put on display showing how it will look once complete. Mr Austin said: “I am delighted to be here. It’s an absolutely fantastic initiative to bring all these organisations together. It is saving jobs in the construction industry.”