whg’s office development at Walsall Gigaport delayed (18/05/10)

Walsall Housing Group today expressed disappointment at the delay in receiving a decision from Advantage West Midlands regarding their application for a grant to help fund its new office.

The social housing landlord plans to build a new office in Walsall Gigaport, in the town centre. Walsall Council has granted permission for the building and whg is in the final stages of acquiring the land from the council. An application for funding to contribute towards the cost of the build was made to AWM but it is yet to be determined.

Fred Bell, Chair of whg, said: “The Board of whg agreed in March to accept a tender for building the office, subject to obtaining the grant on the basis we were discussing with AWM.

“The organisation which successfully tendered for the building contract has twice agreed to extend the period they would hold their price for but we are now reaching the time limit beyond which, we cannot reasonably expect them to go.

“Given the current uncertainty surrounding the AWM grant, I am arranging for the Board to look again at the financial appraisal to consider whether the development can go ahead as is currently proposed,” added Fred.

Building a town centre office for whg will improve services to customers and represent better value for money as long term efficiencies are forecast.