Homes approved for final part of historic Wolverhampton safe factory site
A plan to build new homes and flats on one of the final remaining parts of a historic Wolverhampton factory has been granted the seal of approval.
The former bowling green at the now demolished Gunnebo site in Woden Road, Heath Town, will be used to build new homes and flats after a planning application was granted approval by Wolverhampton Council.
The factory off Woden Road was home to Chubbs Safes before the company was sold nearly 25 years ago.
A council report outlining the decision said: “The proposals would provide new homes on the site of the former Chubb Factory bowling green and associated car park.
"The applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that there is no longer a need for this facility at this location and has agreed to provide an off-site financial contribution towards improving sports facilities nearby.”
More than 100 homes have already been built on the factory site in recent years with the historic city firm’s former bowling green one of the few remaining parts to remain untouched.
The fenced-off patch of grass would be used for six new homes and nine apartments according to the application by Gunnebo Safe Storage UK.
A move to build housing on the land was first made in 2019 but the council said it remained an “active recreational facility". The green’s pavilion was demolished in 2021 as it was in a “very poor state” and over fears it was a fire risk.
According to the application, Wolverhampton Council had approached Gunnebo Safe Storage UK in 2022 over plans to turn the former bowling green into a skate park as part of ‘legacy’ work for that year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham following a peak in interest.
However, the work never got off the ground and the site stayed empty. A year later the council said the patch of grass was still not being used, the site was “redundant” and there was no interest from either the local authority or the local community in using it for sport.
The site did, however, start to attract the interest of vandals, becoming a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.
The safe-making side of Chubb was sold to Swedish firm Assa Abloy in 2000 which then passed the business on to Gunnebo.
Months later the firm closed the safe works in Wolverhampton with 170 staff made redundant.
Gunnebo said the factory was “too big” for its business after much of the manufacturing side moved to new premises in Willenhall and Wednesfield with the main offices eventually moving to Pendeford Business Park.
