Demolition begins on Willenhall’s Locksmiths Quarter
Work is now under way to build more than a hundred homes at an ‘eyesore’ derelict West Midlands factory site.
Bulldozers have moved in at the fire-torn former Colonial Works factory building on Moat Street, associated with Willenhall’s lock-making industry for more than 100 years, after demolition plans were approved in December.
The site has long been a target for Walsall Council’s regeneration ambitions, with the works falling out of use following the sale of the business more than three decades ago, the main factory subsequently losing its roof in a fire during 2015.
The site was subject to a compulsory purchase order from the local authority last year, around 18 months after £20m of Levelling Up funding was secured from central government to deliver the homes under the Willenhall Masterplan.
Walsall Council launched its regeneration plans for the area in October, confirming housebuilder Keepmoat Homes had been appointed to the project, which received outline permission in October 2024.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, said the former factory had been a “blight on the community”, having been subject to significant antisocial behaviour issues over the past twenty years.
“It’s great to see these derelict eyesores start to come down in Willenhall, “he said.
“This is a major step forward in laying the groundwork for a future that Willenhall truly deserves. It’s been a complex process to bring these challenging sites forward for development and there have been a lot of hurdles to overcome. ”
The authority says the new homes are designed to be energy-efficient, attractive, and accessible across a full affordability range.
Shaun Fielding, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat West Midlands, added: “We’re pleased to be strengthening our partnership with Walsall Council by delivering new homes at this high-profile site. The scheme will see the clearance of derelict buildings and the building of much-needed, high-quality housing for new and existing residents.
“At Keepmoat, we pride ourselves on being experts in brownfield regeneration and unlocking this site and addressing the complex remediation issues, working collaboratively with WMBC is testament to this.”
