Vow to take over derelict sites in Willenhall
‘Absent’ owners who have left their empty properties to decay in Willenhall are being targeted in a regeneration scheme.
Walsall Council said it would use compulsory purchase order powers to acquire derelict buildings as part of its 10-year Willenhall Framework Plan.
The plan is aimed at improving housing, encouraging economic growth and making Willenhall a place people want to live, work and shop in.
As part of Phase One of the scheme will be the residential Willenhall Garden City project earmarked for Moat Street and Villiers Street, which would see more than 100 houses built there.
At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (December 15), council bosses agreed to progress with this by deciding on a developer partner as well as reiterating the desire to see the empty buildings given a new lease of life.
A report to the committee said officers were continuing to negotiate on acquiring parcels of land as part of the scheme.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader, said: “The Willenhall Framework plan is a ground-breaking and transformational plan to tackle all the derelict buildings in Willenhall town centre and bring them back into economic use either for housing or employment use.
“This administration and this council is determined to take the tough action needed against the owners of these derelict properties.”
And council leader Mike Bird added: “I welcome the updates on the Willenhall Framework Plan. It’s an important part of the council’s ambitions to regenerate the borough.
“It is fair to say there are a lot of sites within the Willenhall area that have been left derelict for many years. Sadly, we do have owners of those sites that are absent who don’t seem to have an appetite for bringing it forward.
“But I do know Councillor Andrew got plans to actually unlock those sites and make sure we do see the regeneration that Willenhall offers.”
An outline planning application for the Moat Street and Villiers Street proposals is anticipated to come forward in the new year.
