Pleck
Bovis Homes Scheme
Bovis Homes and Walsall Housing Group are promoting a project that comprises the demolition of six tower blocks on Old Pleck Road and comprehensive redevelopment of the site for residential purposes. A two-bedroom apartment scheme will also be constructed on Bescot Road. The total investment is approximately £20m, and funding of £3.1m has been awarded by the former Housing Corporation now the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to Bovis Homes to facilitate the project.
The Old Pleck Road scheme will provide a high quality development that enhances the local environment and offers increased housing choice, including an affordable element. A total of 183 units will be constructed on the Old Pleck Road site. The development will include a mix of homes for sale by Bovis (154no.) and homes for rent through Walsall Housing Group (29no). A mixture of apartments and townhouses will replace the old blocks. A total of 39 apartments will be provided on the Bescot Road site. This development is wholly affordable and will be built to Eco homes ‘very good’ rating meaning the homes will be highly sustainable.
Public Realm Improvements
A number of environmental improvements have also been recently implemented in the area. After a high level of consultation, environmental priorities were identified by the local community which have now been implemented. These include improvements to the grassed area on the corner of Regal Drive and Wednesbury Road, where bushes have been cut back and trees planted to cut down on anti-social behaviour and improve the appearance of the area. Along Ford Street, repaving has taken place, as well as improved gating at the rear of properties and re-tarmacing a number of driveways. The Ford Street car park has had street lighting improvements, as well as new trees and plants installed next to car park and elsewhere along Ford Street. Improvements were made to the exterior of the youth club, such as planting work and improving the path, and installing improved fencing and paving outside the van hire garage on Wednesbury Road. The public toilet block on the corner of Wednesbury Road and Caledon Street has been demolished, and the unattractive planter on Wednesbury Road/Hillary Street junction is due to be removed shortly. Four problem alleyways have also been gated in order to reduce anti social behaviour.
A planning application was submitted in January 2009 for the installation of piece of public artwork to be located at the corner of Wednesbury Road and Regal Drive. A sculpture was designed after extensive public consultation, including four all-day sessions with pupils from Hillary Primary School, Steering Group meetings, and four consultation events involving interest groups within Pleck. It is designed to reflect the history of the area, as well as the interests and aspirations of current residents, and will provide highly visible and attractive gateway feature to people travelling into and out of Pleck Local Centre. View the planning application.
Finally, two CCTV cameras – one fixed and one mobile – will shortly be installed in parts of the Local Centre that have been troubled with crime and anti-social behaviour. This was identified as a need by a number of local residents and traders, in order to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour and to provide evidence when a crime is committed. The Council is providing funding for the cameras for 3 years, and local traders and residents have expressed an interest in raising funds to maintain the cameras after this time.
Useful links
Contact us
Regeneration Development Team
2nd floor, Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP
Telephone 01922 653692
Email glovercaroline@walsall.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 17 February 2010