Wavensmere Homes’ £150m Wolverhampton Canalside South development is preparing to welcome its first residents. An initial tranche of 30 family homes are ready to move into at the 17-acre former British Steel site and Crane Foundry, which had lain derelict since 2009.
50% of the 378 family houses at the city centre regeneration scheme have already been sold off-plan to owner-occupiers and investors, with 131 plots purchased by global real estate investment company, Kennedy Wilson for rental homes. By mid-2030, 533 energy-efficient houses and apartments will be completed, complemented by a range of commercial and community amenities.
The scheme is situated off Qualcast Road, next to the transport interchange. Many of the homes will enjoy waterside views of both the Wyrley & Essington Canal and the Wolverhampton Branch of the Birmingham Main Line Canal.
The site was established through a partnership between City of Wolverhampton Council and the Canal & River Trust, and Wavensmere is delivering the scheme in three phases – progressing sequentially from east to west – to minimise disruption to the surrounding community.
Construction commenced in early 2025. Over £25m has already been invested on land assembly and remediation, site enabling, groundworks and construction. Over 100 construction tradespeople are working on site five days a week, many being locals living in Wolverhampton and the surrounding Black Country boroughs. All roads and service infrastructure is in place for the first phase of development, and by the end of 2027, all 153 houses in phase one will be completed and occupied.
James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said:
“The huge demand to live at Canalside South – a former derelict industrial site that was a blot on Wolverhampton’s landscape – speaks volumes about the appeal of this superbly connected city centre. We have already spent over £25m on site works and construction to be at the major milestone we’ve reached today – welcoming the first new residents.
“With the significant work we’re undertaking to open up new canalside walking routes into the adjacent train station and transport interchange, we are excited to see the ripple effect this £150m scheme could bring about. This is Wolverhampton’s time to shine and our emphasis on quality placemaking will ensure this project become a nationally important trophy asset for the city.”
Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said:
“The council, working with the Canal & River Trust, set out a clear plan and assembled derelict brownfield sites along our canal network with a vision to bring them back to life.
“We could not be more delighted with how our chosen developer for this site, Wavensmere Homes, has brought this scheme forward, delivering major transformation with the first new homes completed on the doorstep of the city centre.
“This is one of the largest new housing developments in the Midlands, creating hundreds of jobs for local people, and shows how the council – working collaboratively with the private sector – is making a real difference for city residents.”
822 sq ft three-bedroom ‘Elizabeth’ family homes are priced at £290,000 for a mid-terrace house, while end of terrace homes are £295,000. They are being future-proofed with air source heat pumps and solar panels. There will also be EV charging to each house, alongside an array of EV chargers for visitors. All homes currently available for sale are scheduled for completion from mid-2027, with a choice of plots located close to the amenities, landscaped open space, or with views of the canal.
Mike Pegler, President, Kennedy Wilson Europe, said:
“The quality, character and attention to detail of the newly completed homes at Canalside South are a credit to Wavensmere Homes. This scheme is popular because it’s so close to the shops, workplaces and attractions. Meanwhile, the adjacent transport interchange offers frequent 16-minute trains into Birmingham New Street Station.
“Wavensmere’s reputation for urban regeneration gave us the confidence to make our first investment in Wolverhampton, as we continue to grow our UK single family housing platform. These homes will offer residents high quality, well-designed and sustainable rental housing, with ultra-low running costs.”
378 townhouses are being constructed to an EPC-A rated specification, complemented by 145 one-and two-bedroom apartments and 60 co-living apartments. Wavensmere is also reanimating the disused railway arches on the site into 1,338sqm (14,400 sq ft) of lettable commercial space.
Designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects, the low-rise development emulates the surrounding conservation area and maximises the canalside setting. On completion, the scheme will include seven acres of vibrant green space and open up a new pedestrian route to the city core – reducing the previous walk time by 20 minutes – and igniting new investment into a commercial corridor. The overall vision for the Wolverhampton Canalside masterplan is the delivery of around 1,000 homes to meet both the city and wider region’s housing needs, with sustainability and place-making at its heart.
