1,000 homes at brownfield development site
Up to 1,000 homes are to be built on the brownfield development site located at the Cape Hill Brewery in the next 12 months.
Regeneration minister Lord Rooker visited the site yesterday and said he believes the transformation of the brownfield land will be a showcase scheme that will breathe new life into the deprived district. His visit coincided with the start of demolition work on the 52-acre development land site.
Wolverhampton-based developers Persimmon Homes, which bought the brewery site last year for a reported £110 million, plans to build up to 650 homes on the northern part of the site, in Smethwick, and 300 or more in the southern part, just inside Birmingham.
The Mitchells & Butlers brewery shut down in March 2002 after 125 years, with the loss of 320 jobs.
Lord Rooker warned that unless disused sites such as the brewery are redeveloped quickly, they risk becoming dilapidated eyesores which can drag down the surrounding community with them.
“This brownfield development site will breathe new life into Smethwick,” he said.
“The brewery brought jobs to thousands of people over the years, but times have changed and it is now a prime brownfield development site.
"I shall look forward to coming back here to see it once the building work is completed,” the minister added.
Persimmon Homes regional chairman Dominic Harman said: “Today marks the start of demolition on the brownfield development site, which will take some time as it is a very large site. We hope to be able to start the real construction work in about six months’ time.”
Source: Express and Star, 13.1.2005
