The City of Wolverhampton Council has provisionally selected Legal & General as the developer for its Canalside South development, pending planning approval
The Canalside South development, which could bring around 400 new homes in Wolverhampton, will be delivered by Legal & General Modular Homes. The City of Wolverhampton has selected the firm as its preferred developer, subject to planning approval being granted for the industrial site’s development.
The decision comes following an open market tendering process alongside partners Canal & River Trust – supported by real estate advisors, Avison Young.
The modular development will deliver net zero residential stock for Wolverhampton
Engineered in L&G’s modular factory in Leeds, every modular home will include an air source heat pump, PV panels and Electric Vehicle charging point as standard – all supporting the city’s climate change commitment to be net carbon neutral by 2041.
The homes are 60% more efficient to run for the homeowner than a Building Regulation compliant new build home and the apartments are up to 30% cheaper to heat and run than the average apartment. This will have a positive impact on reducing individuals’ energy bills as the cost-of-living crisis looms.
L&G will support the local economy through their use of local labour and supply chains
The company has committed to delivering significant social and economic benefits in accordance with the Wolverhampton Charter.
This includes delivering local labour and supply chain opportunities, enhancing skills and employability, creating apprenticeships, promoting cohesion and activities within the community, and supporting health and wellbeing.
L&G will also seek to deliver commercial uses alongside the sustainable new homes
The 17-acre waterfront development opportunity sits in the east 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 its land off Qualcast Road.
The sites have all been brought together under a collaboration agreement designed to ensure a comprehensive development takes place.
Canalside South is located minutes away from the city centre and the £150m transport Interchange, providing easy access to the tram, road, rail and canal network.
Legal & General will also seek to deliver commercial uses alongside the new homes, such as a coffee shop, co-working space, bike hire and water activities, while landscaping will create a green corridor and promote biodiversity.
Offering carbon-efficient homes with MMC
Rosie Toogood, CEO of Legal & General Modular Homes said: “I am delighted that Legal & General Modular Homes has been selected as preferred developer by the City of Wolverhampton Council to deliver this major residential development. In the face of a chronic housing shortage, steep energy bill increases, and a looming climate crisis deadline our mission is to reduce costs to consumers and the environment by producing the best quality homes in the most efficient way possible. The City of Wolverhampton shares this ambition and together we are excited to deliver a first class community for Wolverhampton and the West Midlands.
“Legal & General as a business has a strong track record of delivering major regeneration projects throughout the UK. This latest development further demonstrates its commitment to delivering regeneration and housing across the West Midlands, having signed a £4bn partnership agreement earlier this year with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).”
“It will enable our residents to benefit from superb connectivity, amenities and health and wellbeing opportunities at this wonderful heritage location.”
Canalside South development waterfront proximity provides both heritage and sustainability
The sites benefit from frontage onto the Wyrley & Essington Canal and the Wolverhampton Branch of the Birmingham Main Line Canal, which will be considered and incorporated into the development’s design.
Cheryl Blount-Powell, National Property Development manager at the Canal & River Trust, added:
“Still navigated by boats as they were 200 years ago, waterways today also have a key role to play in urban development, helping cool temperatures along the canal corridor, bringing wildlife into the heart of our cities, and improving mental and physical health amongst the communities they run through. Canalside South will provide an improved connection between the canal and the city, opening up the waterfront for new and existing communities.
“We are delighted to have Legal & General Modular Homes onboard to deliver a high quality, sustainable development that will breathe new life into a previously forgotten part of Wolverhampton. As the charity responsible for protecting and preserving the nation’s waterways we are working collaboratively with our partners to ensure the character of the canal is maintained, the industrial heritage is embraced, and animation on and off the water is enhanced resulting in widespread social and economic benefits.”
The Canalside South development is part of wider plans to revitalise Wolverhampton
City of Wolverhampton Council deputy leader and Cabinet member for City Economy, councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “The tendering process demonstrated there is a strong developer appetite to deliver a transformational project in this part of Wolverhampton.
“We have now secured a prestigious developer with the expertise to deliver this large and exciting opportunity at Canalside South and, through our Canalside Delivery Partnership with the Canal & River Trust, we are determined to realise the scheme’s full potential.
“Strong partnership working is delivering £4.4bn of investment across Wolverhampton – and by pooling our resources with the Canal & River Trust we believe we can bring about a nationally significant development alongside one of the most historic stretches of canal in the country.
The overall vision for the Canalside South development 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.
