Works begins on Walsall Waterfront

Construction work has started on a development with 164 new homes which forms the Walsall Waterfront South flagship regeneration project.

This is the second phase of the canalside development being built by Cannock-based firm Jessup Build Develop on land in Charles Street.

The latest phase of the project is being developed in partnership with Caldmore Area Housing Association and Matrix Housing Partnership, after it attracted a £6.5million grant from the Government's Kickstart fund under the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Caldmore Housing will manage 82 of the flats, which will be affordable homes for rent, and construction firm Jessup will provide the other 82 for private sale and rent.

Housing group Accord will manage more than 100 homes in the development.

Jessup Build Develop chief executive Clive Jessup said: "This development has been made possible due to the strong collaborative partnership we have established with the HCA, Walsall Regeneration company, Walsall Council and Matrix Housing Partnership over the past five years."

Work is progressing on phase one of the Waterfront South development, which will cost a total of £65million to complete.

Construction is well in hand for more than 150 other homes, office and retail space to transform the top end of the town near to the Crown Wharf Shopping Centre.

It includes the facade of the former Homer Pressings Building, built in the late 1800s.

Chairman of Walsall Regeneration Company Brian Lowe said: "This is brilliant news for the borough and represents another crucial element of the ongoing regeneration of the town centre and beyond."

The vision for Walsall Waterfront is to transform 17 acres and create a picturesque waterside quarter.

Another developer, Urban Splash has submitted plans with Walsall Council for a 100-bedroom hotel creating more than 65 jobs for Waterfront North opposite the Jessup site.

The hotel will be built, off Wolverhampton Street, near the New Art Gallery, and will see parent company Whitbread invest £7million in the town.

There will be a temporary 100-space car park next to the hotel before a new multi-storey car park is built.