Wavensmere Homes preferred developer on Canalside South scheme

Wavensmere Homes has been announced as the preferred developer for the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Canalside South scheme, one of the largest city centre residential development opportunities in the Midlands.

The council has finalised Heads of Terms, entering into an exclusivity agreement with Birmingham-based Wavensmere Homes for the SME housebuilder to deliver more than 500 new homes at Canalside South, a former industrial site fronting onto the Wyrley & Essington Canal and the Wolverhampton branch of the Birmingham Main Line Canal.

Wavensmere Homes plans to build 384 two-and three-bedroom townhouses and 140 one-and two-bedroom apartments to an EPC-A rated specification. It aims to install electric-only heating systems across the site, air source heat pumps, solar panels, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), EV charging to each home and EV chargers for visitors.

It said that the design for the low-rise scheme supported the surrounding conservation area, maximising the canal-side setting and 4.4-acres of new public open space.

The housebuilder is the council’s new preferred developer after the initial preferred developer Legal & General Modular Homes closed its factory in May.

Wavensmere also plans to redevelop and “reanimate” the disused railway arches into 7,000 …