Representatives from the City of Wolverhampton Council were recently welcomed by Midland’s housing provider, whg, Cannock based developers, MORRO Partnerships, YMCA Black Country Group and ASAN for an exclusive tour of the extensive redevelopment site at The Royal Quarter, off Cleveland Road in Wolverhampton.
The Royal Quarter is the project name that describes the new residential place being created through the four phases of regeneration in and around the locality of the former iconic Royal Hospital.
The regeneration project, which is due for completion next year, will deliver 192 new affordable homes, including 38 one- and two-bedroom apartments for people aged over 55 at the new well-being scheme in the sympathetically restored Grade II listed Royal Hospital building. An additional 123 homes for affordable rent and 31 for shared ownership are also being built on land to the rear of the hospital building.
Attendees were given the opportunity to see the newly constructed apartments in the well-being facility as well as the former bus depot site at Cleveland Road that MORRO Partnerships, YMCA Black Country Group and whg completed in 2021. This scheme, which is already in full use, comprises of a community of 150 affordable homes, an early year’s nursery, retail unit and the administrative Head Office of YMCA Black Country Group.
Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing said: “The former Royal Hospital is a hugely iconic building in Wolverhampton and has played a huge part in the lives of so many citizens.
“This is why our planning department has worked hard with partners over the years to ensure a suitable scheme is brought forward on this strategically important site. whg, YMCA Black Country and MORRO Partnerships have worked together to deliver a fantastic scheme on the former bus depot site opposite the former Royal Hospital.
“whg and MORRO are now transforming the former Royal Hospital itself and the area around it by delivering new affordable housing — in line with our city housing strategy to help local people get homes in well-connected neighbourhoods.
“It will make The Royal Quarter a key gateway to the city centre — creating jobs in construction and the supply chain, driving further investment and giving our residents and businesses opportunities to thrive as one community.”
Rebecca Bennett Casserly, whg’s Corporate Director of Development said: “When we embarked on this project, we were acutely aware of the significance of this area and our responsibility as custodians of such an historic part of Wolverhampton.
“Our vision has always been to create high-quality, new homes built to modern day standards alongside the redevelopment of the iconic Royal Hospital building to create a really special scheme that serves our entire local community.
“It has been a real privilege to see this vision come to life and to be able to welcome so many of our partners to see for themselves what we have achieved so far was fantastic.”
Chris Timmins, Managing Director at MORRO Partnerships added: “It’s really important for industry leaders to come together at such a fantastic event at a site of such historic and local significance.
“A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into this development from our team, partners and sub-contractors. To be able to demonstrate what we have achieved here and share with our partners our future plans is incredibly rewarding.
“Our relationship with whg and the YMCA continues to go from strength to strength, and with construction at The Royal Quarter progressing well, I am proud to see the site transformed in what has been a relatively short space of time.”
Steve Bavington, CEO of YMCA Black Country reflected that: “It was a privilege to host this event at our YMCA City Gateway site and to be part of the team that has sensitively regenerated the area.
“YMCA believes in the transformative power of community development in Wolverhampton and The Royal Quarter project, alongside our existing YMCA City Gateway development on Cleveland Road, exemplifies the positive impact we can achieve together. These initiatives are creating high-quality, affordable homes, alongside our community offer, all with the aim of fostering a thriving local community.”
Header image from L-R: Jeremy Oakley, Trustee, YMCA Black Country Group, Jenny Lewington, Deputy Director of Housing, City of Wolverhampton Council, Gary Moreton, Chair, whg Board, Tim Johnson, Chief Executive, City of Wolverhampton Council, Gary Fulford, Group Chief Executive, whg, Steve Bavington, Chief Executive, YMCA Black Country Group, Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader: City Housing, City of Wolverhampton Council, Richard Lawrence, Director of Regeneration, City of Wolverhampton Council, Shobha Asar-Paul, Chief Officer, ASAN, Ian Jackson, Head of Partnerships, MORRO Partnerships, and Rebecca Bennett Casserly, Corporate Director of Development, whg.
