New council homes ready for tenants to move in

Morro operations director Gavin Ward and council leader Stephen Simkins in front of one of the new council houses on Ettingshall Road

Eleven newbuild council homes have been completed and are ready for tenants to move in at a formerly empty site in Wolverhampton.

The Ettingshall Road development in Bilston consists of seven two-bedroom houses, two three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses.

Construction began in September and the site was handed over to the council by the developer this week.

The council said the properties were built using sustainable methods and brought land back into use which had been blighted by fly-tipping.

They each come with solar panels and are gas-free, the authority said.

Bosses said work was also beginning or set to start in the coming months on 81 additional properties across six city sites.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council leader, said there was a growing demand for housing.

"This is a great example of how we are delivering good quality homes at pace and bringing small disused sites back into use," he said.

He said the properties would be allocated to local people according to the council's housing policy.

"This development also builds substantially on the investment already made in Bilston in recent years that is seeing the town flourish," he added.

Morro Partnerships managing director Tom Broadway said transforming sites like Ettingshall Road was important for local pride, and the energy-efficient homes would reduce bills and "make life more comfortable" for residents.