Get all the latest policies, email updates
A £100 million refurbishment of “Europe’s most infected land” has been given the green light through Walsall planners.
Approximately 1,000 jobs are expected to be created when reservoir place’s Phoenix 10 is cleaned up and approximately 620,000 square feet of employment area is created in its place.
Walsall City Council’s planning committee approved the demolition of existing structures and remediation of the land at an assembly on Thursday, April 29.
Cleaning is now expected to begin in the fall.
The site once housed the James Bridge Copper Works, which closed in 1999, and has been deserted for more than 20 years.
The land is riddled with gases and pollutants from past commercial uses, lately it is not destructive to shut down residents.
Walsall City Council began searching blank for dominance about 10 years ago.
But an agreement has been reached between asset developer HBD, Walsall Council and Homes England for the 44-acre site with investment provided through partners, as well as Black Country LEP and West Midlands Combined Authority.
At the meeting, resident Hayley Dolan expressed citizens’ considerations about the clean-up procedure that releases pollutants into the environment and the water supply.
He also said many residents, especially those near Darlaston Road, would lose much-needed parking spaces as a result of the redevelopment.
But committee members said there were many more positives as a result of this and unanimously supported the program.
Committee chairman and head of the council, Mike Bird, said: “This is the most infected in Europe.
“I have been fighting this for over 20 years and we controlled to get from the Combined Authority and the HCA to make this happen.
“That’s several million pounds of public money. When we come out of this pandemic, living with Covid, we will want jobs.
“And jobs in sectors that we might not have lately. People in the hospitality industry who lose their jobs can also be recycled into anything on this site.
“Phoenix 10 is what we call it because it’s coming out of its ashes and all I can say is that I’ll be satisfied when it’s over. “
Aftab Nawaz, walsall labor group leader and committee member, added: “I sense some of the residents’ considerations, but I think this progression outweighs all objections.
“The benefit, just for the region and for the municipality as a whole, is huge.
“It’s not about cleaning up the infected soil, however, some of the paintings that will be done there are way behind. This is a wonderful opportunity for the region.
At the end of the meeting, Simon Raiye, Director of HBD, said: “This is the largest abandoned undeveloped industrial area in the Black Country and has huge prospects for regeneration. “
“Abandoned for more than 20 years, the first step is the remediation of the site, which should begin in the fall.
“This is an exciting allocation that will take a heavy price to walsall’s local network and a thriving regional economy. “