Property developer HBD has started on site at Phoenix 10, with work now underway on the mammoth project to regenerate the former James Bridge Copper Works; a 44-acre brownfield site that has been disused for two decades.
One of the Midlands’ largest regeneration projects, Phoenix 10 is being delivered by HBD in partnership with Walsall Council, Homes England, West Midlands Combined Authority and Black Country LEP.
Extensive remediation works must be completed before construction work can begin, with contractor JF Hunt now getting underway with initial site clearance. Remediation is expected to conclude in early 2024, with construction beginning shortly afterwards.
The huge project will see Phoenix 10 once again become a centre for enterprise, with 620,000 sq. ft. of high-quality employment space accessed via Junctions 9 and 10 of the M6. It is expected to create around 1,000 jobs, while helping to drive inward investment.
Simon Raiye, Director at HBD, said: “Phoenix 10 is one of the largest and most complex regeneration projects underway in the Midlands and will offer the region a huge boost in creating new jobs and helping to build a thriving economy.
“It’s great to be able to get started on cleaning the site up and giving it new purpose. It is extremely well located and played an important role in the town’s history, so we look forward to seeing the new scheme begin to take shape over the coming years.”
Cllr Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council said: “This development will create hundreds of local jobs in Pleck, Walsall and the wider region. We have been working on this for a number of years and it is great to see the progress that has been made with our partners HBD.”
HBD is one of the UK’s most active property developers. With seven regional offices, it focuses on three key sectors; industrial and logistics, urban regeneration and residential. Its Birmingham office is leading on Phoenix 10, along with several large-scale projects across the Midlands, including Setl in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, and New Horizon in Nottingham, which has seen the transformation of the former Imperial Tobacco factory.