A £2.5 million development of low carbon timber framed homes in Wolverhampton moved one step nearer completion as the latest phase got underway.

Type=image;ImageID=1977;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Councillor Peter Bilson and colleagues watching the 45 feet crane;TitleClass=strong;

Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, Councillor Peter Bilson, watched as a 45 feet crane lifted some of the final timber panels into place to build 22 new homes in Bushbury.

The homes, on the corner of Purcell Road and Fordhouses Road, are being developed by housing association the Accord Group, with the timber panels manufactured at its own LoCaL Homes factory in Walsall.

The 2 and 3 bedroom homes have also been designed by Accord Group's in house design team and are being built by its newly formed construction arm in a bid to slash costs and pump savings back into building more new homes.

Once complete, 19 of the homes will be let to people on housing waiting lists and 3 will be made available for shared ownership to first time buyers who are struggling to get their foot on the property ladder.

Alan Yates, Executive Director of Regeneration at the Accord Group, said: "The final panels being lifted into place signals an important milestone in this development as we can now start work on the interiors of the homes.

"Bushbury has experienced significant regeneration work over the last 8 years and we were pleased to welcome Councillor Bilson to the development to show him how we are designing, manufacturing and building innovative, environmentally friendly homes.

"We are also delighted to be working with Bushbury Triangle Tenant Management Organisation which will manage the homes on completion."

Councillor Bilson said: "This is excellent news for the city.

"Increasing the amount of affordable homes available in Wolverhampton is one of our top priorities and this unique development certainly fits the bill. These environmentally friendly new houses will benefit those struggling to get on the property ladder."

Built on the site of former council housing, the development has received £572,000 from the Government's Homes and Communities Agency and is set to be completed by March next year.

To find out more about the homes available for sale via shared ownership at Bushbury, go to Type=links;Linkid=2466;Title=Accord Group;Target=_blank;.

  • released: Wednesday 28 August, 2013