First phase of £65m Walsall scheme is completed

The Accord Group, Walsall Council and the HCA welcomed the first family into the Walsall Waterfront South development last week, marking the completion of the first 23 homes ready to live in.

This is the first phase of the £65m scheme, set to revive Walsall town centre and create 322 homes for affordable rent and sale as well as office and retail space that is expected to create 200 jobs.

Costing around £3.2million to build; this first phase has received £1.7million of investment through the Homes and Communities Agency to ensure the scheme maintained momentum through a tough economic climate.

The first homes built by Jessup Build Develop are available to rent through The Accord Group.

Stephanie Horin and her family were the first tenants to receive their keys.

She said: “It’s lovely, there’s no painting to do or anything – it’s all done. I never thought we would move into a newly built house and it’s brilliant for me because I work in the town centre.”

Horin was met by chief executive of the Accord Group Dr Chris Handy OBE, Walsall cabinet member for regeneration councillor Adrian Andrew, and investment and regeneration manager at the HCA (West Midlands), Assad Hamed.

Hamed said: “HCA investment has been instrumental in delivering the regeneration of Waterfront South - ensuring homes have continued to be built during a tough economic climate. I am absolutely delighted that as a result of the partnership work between HCA, Walsall Council and Accord, these much-needed high quality family homes are now ready for people to move into.”

Chris Handy OBE, chief executive of the Accord Group, said: “It’s fantastic to see local people begin to move into their new high quality homes here at Walsall Waterfront.

“This scheme will create much-needed, affordable accommodation for local people and families in the borough.”

A further 17 affordable canal-side apartments are due to be completed in February which will also be available to rent through Accord and a further 111 apartments are set to be completed in March and these will be managed by Accord, specifically for doctors and nurses working at the newly extended Manor Hospital.

The second phase of Walsall Waterfront is also underway and will see a further 164 apartments being developed with further investment through the HCA. These homes are expected to be completed by June next year.