Consultation on the development of Friar Park Urban Village

Plans to clean up one of the largest brownfield development sites in the West Midlands to pave the way for 600 homes are to be outlined to residents at two drop in sessions.

Sandwell Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are working on plans for the 27 hectare (67 acre) Friar Park Urban Village site in Wednesbury. An initial planning application for the clean up of the site will be submitted shortly. 

The plans will turn the land between Friar Park Road and Kent Road, most of which is underused and contaminated, into a community asset to benefit both new and existing residents. The development project secured funding from the Levelling Up Partnership in September 2023.  

The proposals include plans to extract contaminated soil, treat it and reuse it on site to create development platforms to accommodate housing development of around 630 new homes and create a linear landscaped area along the boundary with Bescot sidings of the site to act as screening and noise protection from the railway and the M6. 

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “We’re taking a huge brownfield site and transforming it into homes for hundreds of families. It’s important that residents are kept informed, so I encourage everyone to find out what is planned.

“In total, there will be more than 600 new homes here, helping address the housing shortage in the West Midlands. At least a quarter of these homes will be affordable, but I want to go further. I am seeking new powers and funding so we can make sure even more people have access to home they can afford.”

Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and infrastructure said: “The plans for the Friar Park Urban Village will transform the area from a contaminated, brown-field site to a wonderful village where families can grow and thrive. If you are interested in finding out more, please do come to one of our drop in sessions.”

Drop in sessions to look at the plans will take place at the Millennium Centre, Friar Park Road, WS10 OJS on Friday 18 October [3pm – 8pm] and Saturday 19 October [10am – 3pm]

Alternatively, you can find out more online at the consultation website (https://consultationhub.sandwell.gov.uk/)  from 18 October 2024 until 28 November 2024.  

Subject to all approvals the Council and WMCA expect to secure a developer Spring/Summer 2025 with work expected to start in Autumn 2025 .The remediation of the site is expected to last approximately two to three years and the sites is expected to be fully developed out in eight to ten years.