Next stage of £32 million Wolverhampton Royal Hospital development approved by council chiefs

The plans include transforming the site of the derelict former hospital into almost 200 homes as part of wider plans to make the area a key gateway to the city centre.

Planning permission has been approved for the hospital two years after work started on the old Cleveland Road bus depot next door which is now nearing completion.

Building work on the city centre site was temporarily paused due to Covid last year but the progress can be clearly seen from the ring road at Bilston Street Island.

The homes already built overlook the main road, around 100 metres from the 19th century hospital where 192 flats are to be built under the £32 million scheme. The project is being led by Jessup, who was awarded the project by Homes England, in partnership with Midlands landlord whg.

It will see the main hospital building, which closed in 1997, converted into a wellbeing scheme for over-55s made up of 38 one and two-bedroom apartments. A further 123 flats will be built for affordable rent and 31 for shared ownership will be built on the land behind the hospital.

Rebecca Bennett Casserly, whg’s corporate director of development, said: “This site, in the heart of Wolverhampton, has stood empty for almost 25 years. Our new development of mixed tenure homes will have something for everyone, whatever stage of life they are at. Complemented by beautiful open spaces and the nearby city centre, we aim to not just bring derelict land back into use, but also create an active and vibrant community where people will want to live.”

Jessup chief executive Clive Jessup said: “We are delighted that planning has been approved for the Royal Hospital site and we look forward to working with our development partners to deliver these new homes using our skilled local construction team and apprentices.”

Work at the Royal Hospital site is due to start on site this summer with a planned completion date of 2024.