City of Wolverhampton Council has granted approval for a new residential development comprising 60 homes on the site of a former warehouse and gym that was destroyed by fire in 2021. The proposed development, submitted by housing developer Stonebond, will feature a combination of one-bedroom flats and family homes on the location of the former Grasshoppers building on Craddock Street in the Whitmore Reans area of Wolverhampton.
The original building, previously owned by Grasshopper baby clothing company before converting into an Xercise4Less gym in 2014, was ravaged by a significant fire on December 6, 2021. Approximately 90 firefighters responded to the blaze, which broke out at around 1am, and battled the flames for two and a half hours. The warehouse had since been used for furniture storage. Nearby residents were evacuated during the emergency.
City planners considered objections from the public but concluded that the benefits of the housing scheme outweighed any concerns. A council spokesperson remarked, “There will not be an impact on the character of the area, neighbours’ amenities, or highway safety that would have justified refusing the application.”
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The development proposal was refined after input from multiple stakeholders, resulting in plans for a sustainable and respectful project that will provide high-quality family homes. The site has been earmarked for housing developments since the early 1990s and was included in various council housing plans over the years without progress. Prior proposals suggested up to 48 new homes could be built there.
It is worth noting that last year the council’s refusal to allow the installation of a 20-metre 5G tower near the site-citing concerns over its impact on future residents and the area’s character-was overturned by a government planning inspector, who approved the installation despite the council’s objections.