Plans approved to replace old buildings with homes

Derelict buildings on roads such as Moat Street in Willenhall are set to make way for new homes

Plans to replace a number of derelict buildings in Willenhall with scores of new houses and apartments have been given approval.

The empty structures on Moat Street, Temple Bar, Cemetery Road, Villiers Street, and New Hall Street are set to be demolished to make way for 58 houses, 48 apartments and new areas of public space.

Outline planning permission for the regeneration scheme was granted in July.

Vice chairman of the Willenhall History Society, Ralph Jackson, said he remembered when the area was a "hive of activity".

But the locations earmarked for change and historically known for lock making have since fallen into decay and faced arson, neglect and fly-tipping.

Moat Street was chosen as a backdrop by BBC film crews last year

The blue and white Colonial Works, running along Moat Street, was previously home to J. Legge lock makers.

Moat Street was chosen by BBC film crews last year who were looking for a backdrop in which to shoot Northern Ireland-set The Troubles. 

About 50 firefighters tackled a blaze on the street last Tuesday when a blaze broke out at a two-storey derelict factory, causing it to partially collapse.

Three retro fuel pumps are still in place at the former Moat Street Garage

Speaking of the area's history, Mr Jackson, who worked as a locksmith trading under RJ Locks, said he remembered David Beard’s lock firm and the Union lock works on Cemetery Road.

“They used to keep their brown and cream lorries there. They were brown with cream writing," he said.

At the other end of Moat Street, on the junction with Cemetery Road, there used to be Cartwright’s Printers in the 1940s.

Hold Fast Works, Morgan’s lock makers, Humphrey and J. Fox and Samuel Baker’s Moat Street works were all also based on the same road.

The buildings are set to be replaced by a number of apartments and houses

Three retro fuel pumps are still in place at the Moat Street Garage nearby, which has most recently been used as a car wash.

Further down New Hall Street was the Hollybush pub, which was demolished in the 1970s.

Mr Jackson is in favour of plans for the new development.

“It wants fetching down now, the lot does. I only hope I live to see it done to be quite honest," he said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.