Plans back on track for new town centre office (26/05/10)

Walsall Housing Group (whg) has announced that work to build its new town centre office will proceed.

After a meeting of whg’s Board last night (25th), Chair Fred Bell confirmed the go-ahead had been given for the project and building work would start next month.

He said: “We have been looking to build a new town centre office in Walsall for some time and play our part in the regeneration of the borough.

“The Board has reviewed the scheme and we are in a position for the build to proceed without the grant funding we had hoped to obtain from Advantage West Midlands. It is disappointing we have not been able to secure the grant but we will continue our dialogue with them to see if they can offer any financial assistance as the build progresses.

“The support we have received from Walsall Council in selling us the land at a discounted value is appreciated and has helped the viability of the project. It is an exciting time for whg and we are looking forward to seeing the new town office take shape,” added Fred.

whg, the borough’s biggest social landlord, will build the office on a 1.5-acre site at the corner of Littleton Street East and Hatherton Street, Walsall. The site forms part of the new Walsall Office Corridor.

Building contractors have now been appointed and it is anticipated that construction work will begin on site in June, with completion set before the end of 2011.

The new building will bring colleagues currently located across several sites together, including those based at Tameway Tower in Bridge Street. whg will retain a strong presence across the borough through its network of local offices.