Express & Star

Funding agreed for 44-home estate at Cannock depot

Funding for a new 44-home estate on a council depot in Cannock has been approved.

Published
The site is on Old Hednesford Road

Half of the new homes on the Hawks Green site will be affordable council homes aimed at cutting a housing waiting list of 900 families.

Cannock Chase District Council’s cabinet has now approved £382,000 for the Hawks Green scheme as part of its £12.9 million masterplan to provide more council housing over a five year period.

The base, on Old Hednesford Road, is still used by district council workers but a large part of it has been disused for years.

Cabinet heard that there are currently about 900 families on the housing list, and there is a need for 110 more affordable homes per year.

Councillor John Kraujalis, portfolio holder for housing, said: "At the moment approximately half of it is not being used, so we can use half of the land.

"It's good news. We're using a facility that is currently under used for people on the housing list and people who want to buy properties, so it's a win win situation for the people involved including the council."

It comes as Cameron Homes’ plans for 70 homes were approved for Burntwood Road, Norton Canes, last month, just two miles away from the Hawks Green site.

However district councillor Zaphne Stretton said when that was approved she was concerned the area would not be able to cope as the doctors’ surgeries and schools are full to capacity.

A grant for £900,000 from West Midlands Combined Authority to offset land remediation costs and associated fees for the planned 22 affordable homes and 22 for sale has also been given for the Hawks Green site which is expected to cost more than £3m.

Subject to planning approval, there will be four one bedroom houses, eight one bedroom flats, eight two bedroom houses and two three bedroom houses for rent.

Council leader George Adamson, said it was a “good use of the land”.

He added: "We do desperately need more houses for rent and we need to welcome the combined authority's grant, it makes this scheme viable.

"It's an excellent idea."

The plans will go before full council while planning permission will have to be granted later.