Willenhall Road regeneration could cost £30 million
Regeneration on a major route into a city could cost up to £30 million, a council official has revealed.
Council plans to transform the Willenhall Road Corridor, which runs along the A454 and connects the city to other parts of the Black Country via the M6, could see 8,000 homes built and 12,000 jobs created..
Project manager for the huge development, Steve Randall, has revealed the cost of the revamp could end up being between £25m and £30m.
Speaking at a public consultation on the scheme, which was held at the Novotel Hotel last week, he said: “The plan is for the scheme to cost £25m to £30m.
“This figure is only for the transport regeneration, however, which the public consultation is currently asking residents for their views on,” he added.
Consultations are currently taking place until November 23 while the plans are still in the early stages.
Members of the public are being invited to give their views on congestion along the route and also plans for cycle lanes and bus priority routes.
It is believed that the jobs will come in the form of construction workers building the houses, the hope that current shops will be regenerated and that new businesses will be attracted to the area.
Grants
Wolverhampton council says there will be a number of groups involved in the scheme, including the Black Country LEP and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The council will be applying for grants to fund the scheme and will welcome bids from regional transport pots, as well as the Government, to help with costs.
Opposition leader, Councillor Wendy Thompson, said: “As long as the money is coming from elsewhere, with a lot of grants, then it’s money well spent.
“Anymore borrowing is not a good idea, the overall picture shows the council having £1 billion of debt in the next few years,” Councillor Thompson added.
“But it is such a big scheme and the amount of traffic means there is a lot of congestion on the road.
“It’s not good for the people living there and is frustrating for drivers.
“So it’s important to do, as long as Wolverhampton is more careful with its money,” Councillor Thompson added.
