Wavensmere Homes Submits Plans for £150m Wolverhampton Canalside South Scheme
Wavensmere Homes has submitted a full planning application to City of Wolverhampton Council for the proposed £150m residential-led Canalside South development. The 17.5-acre former industrial site is located within the city centre – moments from the transport interchange – and benefits from frontage onto the Wyrley & Essington Canal and the Wolverhampton Branch of the Birmingham Main Line Canal.
Over 530 high EPC-rated homes, seven acres of vibrant green space, and a range of commercial amenities are proposed to regenerate the site, which has lain derelict for 15 years. Designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects, the low-rise development plans emulate the surrounding conservation area and maximise the canalside setting. The scheme is also set to open up a new walkway to the city core, reducing the previous walk time by 20 minutes, and igniting investment into a commercial corridor.
The waterfront development opportunity sits on the eastern edge of the city centre and is made up of the Canal & River Trust-owned former Crane Foundry site, and the Council’s former British Steel site and land off Qualcast Road – all brought together to ensure a comprehensive development takes place.
Wavensmere Homes is proposing 378 two-and three-bedroom townhouses, designed to target an EPC-A rated specification, together with 145 one-and two-bedroom apartments. A building of 10 co-living units – each containing six bedrooms – is also proposed. The multi-award-winning urban regeneration specialist has also submitted plans to redevelop and reanimate disused railway arches on the site into 1,338sqm (14,400 sq ft) of lettable commercial space.
Following extensive consultation with local people, City of Wolverhampton Council, additional partners and stakeholders, we are thrilled to lodge our refined plans for Canalside South, which fully reflect the national significance of this special development opportunity.
James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes
Situated along one of the most historic stretches of canal in the country, these £150m plans introduce new green space, amenities, and a range of different housing typologies to the city. 54 houses and 80 apartment and co-living bedrooms will benefit from waterside views. This scheme is set to be the catalyst for a new wave of ambitious city living, which is vital to see the Wolverhampton pound spent locally.
Our team has a strong history of regenerating vacant land in the Black Country and can confidently transform this site into a landmark development the whole region can be immensely proud of. 70% of our existing supply chain is local to the site, and the construction programme will create more than 100 jobs. We will continue to work alongside the Council and all stakeholders as these plans are considered.
We welcome this planning application from Wavensmere Homes for Canalside South, which is one of the largest city centre residential development opportunities in the Midlands. Redevelopment of this prime site would enable our residents to benefit from superb connectivity, amenities, and health and wellbeing opportunities at this wonderful heritage location.
Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Skills and Jobs
Bringing life back to redundant sites along our canal network is critical to boosting footfall into Wolverhampton city centre and part of our brownfield first strategy, fulfilling a key objective of our Canalside Delivery Partnership with the Canal & River Trust.
Wavensmere Homes proposes future-proofing the Canalside South site by installing electric only heating systems. A range of technologies will be utilised across the development, consisting of air source heat pumps, solar panels and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). The development plans also feature EV charging to each house or parking space, alongside an array of EV chargers for visitors.
The overall vision for the Wolverhampton Canalside masterplan is the delivery of around 1,000 homes to meet both the city and wider region’s housing needs, with sustainability and place-making at its heart.
We are delighted to be working collaboratively with City of Wolverhampton Council and Wavensmere Homes to bring forward this transformational high quality canalside residential-led scheme which will deliver generous well-connected walkways and public open spaces. The plans are set to transform this derelict brownfield land, connecting more people to the canals and to its rich biodiversity.
Andrew Chandler, Development Manager at the Canal & River Trust
Canalside South has the potential to influence the quality of future development around our canals. It will also demonstrate the positive impact that water has on those who live and use the waterways, encouraging more people to engage with their local canal and at the same time help support what we do as a charity and show that life really is better by water.
Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes has 3,500 homes on site, or currently in planning. The firm is in the final phases of the £175m redevelopment of the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary – Nightingale Quarter consists of 925 energy-efficient houses, apartments, and community amenities on the previously vacant 18.5-acre site in Derby city centre. The company is constructing two other major brownfield regeneration schemes, located in central Birmingham and Ipswich, and has further projects – including four additional landmark schemes in Derby and Cheltenham – in the immediate pipeline.
To view the plans, visit www.canalsideWV1.co.uk
