Work to begin on £100m plan

Work is set to start in the next two weeks on a long-awaited £100 million development in Cannock.

A care home and retirement village with 60 apartments, almost 130 flats and 300 new homes are included in the huge Lakeside Park plan at the former Automotive Lighting factory in Bridgtown.

Developers have now confirmed work will begin by the end of the month

Bellway Homes has completed its purchase of 11 acres of the land, on the corner of Walkmill Lane and Watling Street, for the ambitious plans.

The retirement village will provide its own community with craft and IT rooms, a small café and even a hairdresser.

Each resident will have their own apartment and space.

The latest developments have been revealed by The Pritchard Group, led by multi-millionaire Fred Pritchard.

The scheme will include a percentage of affordable housing which Mr Pritchard claims will strengthen the community of Bridgtown.

Also within the housing development there will be a public open space, a multi-use games area, and also provision for off-site works, possibly at Longford playing fields, to provide leisure areas for use by the public.

In addition to the housing, the site will have new offices and industrial units built which will include five car showrooms, a new hotel, pub and business units.

It is thought the development could create 1,000 jobs in the area.

The massive regeneration scheme was given approval by councillors back in 2006 but it has taken until now for the Pritchard group to reach an agreement with the council.

The site will be accessed by a new spine road to be constructed from Walkmill Lane through to the A5.

Mr Pritchard has said the project, called Lakeside Park will significantly enhance the now defunct factory.