New figures show amount spent on Willenhall Masterplan so far as derelict buildings still standing
Plans to demolish several derelict buildings in Willenhall and replace them with housing have already cost taxpayers £1.7 million, despite demolition works not even being underway.
The costs for the Willenhall Masterplan up until March 31, 2025 were revealed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in a Freedom of Information request.
The scheme will see the transformation of Villiers Street, Moat Street, New Hall Street, Stafford Street and Temple Bar.
The area, just outside Willenhall town centre, is mostly dominated by derelict buildings which have fallen victim to anti-social behaviour, especially arson.
The council last month erected large boards around some of the crumbling buildings after residents speaking to the LDRS said ‘weekly fires’ among other behaviour was making their lives miserable.
Deputy leader Councillor Adrian Andrew had promised that demolition works would commence at the start of 2025, but as of yet, no date has been provided as to when this will happen.
Aside from the boards, it seems no physical work has taken place on the site, but the council said lots of work has gone on behind the scenes and residents will see ‘spades in the ground very soon’.
In July last year, Walsall Council got outline planning permission to transform five areas and build 107 homes.
Four months later the authority was granted compulsory purchase powers to take ownership of the land.
Much of it was owned by property developer Mr Phillips, of Phillips Landholdings Ltd, who had hoped to redevelop the area himself.
Two businesses still operating in the area also opposed the Compulsory Purchase Order, knowing that once it goes ahead their livelihoods will be finished.
One of the two businesses, Winfield Industrial Services, has operated its ’thriving’ steel fabrication and metal welding company from Stafford Street with a skilled workforce of 12 local employees.
The other business, SJS Engineering, operates a metal foundry on New Hall Street. The inspector pointed out that the ‘niche nature’ of the business means it would not survive relocation.
The CPO Inquiry and acquisitions totalled nearly a third of the costs at £617,132.60.
Other costs include land assembly for the project which totalled £466.332.64, planning and project management was £398,820.50 and developer procurement, £199,832.83.
The scheme is being funded by the £20million of Levelling Up Round 2 cash awarded to Walsall Council in January 2023.
The figures provided in the FOI response details the costs up until the end of the financial year on March 31, 2025.
Breakdown Total spent to March 31 2025:
Planning and project management Total £398,820.50
Land assembly Total £466.332.64
Developer procurement Total £199,832.83
CPO Inquiry Total £178,364,70
Acquisitions Total £438,767,80
Total £1,682,118.47
Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader of Walsall Council, said: “As a council we have secured considerable investment, including £20million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2, to regenerate Willenhall.
“This investment and the delivery of the Willenhall Framework Plan shows our commitment to creating a better and more prosperous future for Willenhall people.
“A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to prepare swathes of sites, in a variety of conditions, for development. We have gone through an extensive legal process and negotiations to acquire the sites needed to deliver much needed new housing.
“Derelict buildings and disused sites in Willenhall that have been left to fall into disrepair have been a blight on the community for years, attracting antisocial behaviour and posing a serious safety risk for local people.
“It has been a complex and costly process to bring these sites forward for development, but I am confident that residents will soon see the benefit of this necessary investment as we start to get spades in the ground very soon.”
