Landmark Wolverhampton building to be converted for new social housing
Released: 13 February 2025
Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Simkins, today (Thursday) joined Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, as he announced investment to support the building of new homes in the city.
The location is the historic former SJ Dixon & Son premises on Cleveland Road, Wolverhampton where the final phase of the Royal Quarter development is set to begin. The project, which will involve the conversion of the Victorian building, has received funding from the WM Mayor and will deliver 93 new social homes.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, today (Thursday February 13) announced another investment to build more social homes as part of his plans to help address the region’s housing crisis.
The Mayor was at the historic former SJ Dixon & Son premises on Cleveland Road, Wolverhampton where the final phase of the Royal Quarter development is set to begin. The project, which will involve the conversion of the Victorian building, has received funding from the Mayor and will deliver 93 new social homes.
It is the third social housing scheme the Mayor has invested in since Christmas as his mission to build thousands of new social homes across the region gains momentum.
This third and final phase of the Royal Quarter development is being built by Morro Partnerships. It will see Dixon House, built in 1885 and once home to paint firm S.J. Dixon & Son’s, converted into 30 specialist social rented flats for the YMCA Black Country Group.
A further 63 social rent homes are also being built by Morro Partnerships for whg right next to the Dixon House flats.
With over 6,800 households and 13,500 children currently living in temporary accommodation, the development is the latest step towards addressing the housing shortage in the West Midlands.
To help tackle the issue, the Mayor has committed to work with partners including local councils, Homes England, housing associations and developers to deliver 20,000 new social homes over the next decade.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: "Too many people in the West Midlands don’t have a safe, affordable place to call home. They deserve better, and that’s why I’m committed to building thousands of new social and affordable homes.
"This is the third social housing scheme I’ve backed since December, delivering 485 new social and affordable homes, including 337 homes for social rent, for those communities that need them most.
"I'm making sure we build at the scale needed to tackle the housing crisis, working with Homes England and local partners to deliver the biggest social housing programme this region has seen in decades - changing thousands of lives for the better."
Key project partners joining the Mayor on the visit included representatives from Morro Partnerships, Homes England, YMCA Black Country Group, whg, and the City of Wolverhampton Council.
They met residents who have benefited from the housing initiative at the nearby YMCA City Gateway site (completed in Phase 1), such as Clotilda Tiguera, an inspiring example of the impact of YMCA’s housing pathway.
Highlighting the profound social impact of the project, Clotilda, a Y-Living resident, exemplifies the importance of investing in social housing.
After experiencing homelessness, she progressed through YMCA’s housing pathway and has just finished training as a nurse at New Cross Hospital and is entering further medical training.
Clotilda has also joined the Board of Trustees for YMCA Black Country Group, underscoring the transformative power of stable and supportive housing.
Clotilda said: “Having a home with YMCA has been life changing. It gave me the stability to complete my nursing training and build my future after a difficult time during my teenage years.
“Y-Living provided a trusted, supportive environment where I could focus on my studies, connect with others whilst feeling secure. Housing like this is more important than ever for young people.
“I’m excited about YMCA’s new Dixon’s House development, which will give even more young people the chance to have a safe place to call home and take their next steps with confidence."
This phase is being supported by a combined multi-million-pound investment by Homes England, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which is chaired by the Mayor, whg and YMCA Black Country marking a collaborative effort to regenerate underutilized land into a vibrant residential community.
City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “Strong collaborative working has seen a major transformation of the Royal Quarter, and we are delighted to be supporting partners to bring forward the development of this final phase.
“It brings back into use a historic derelict building and will provide vital social and affordable housing for our residents in line with our city housing strategy to help local people secure good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods.”
Matt Moore, CEO of Morro Partnerships, praising the collaborative effort that made the project possible, said: “This development exemplifies what we can achieve when partners come together with a shared vision.
“WMCA, Homes England, whg, YMCA Black Country and Wolverhampton Council have all played vital roles in creating homes that not only meet housing needs but also build sustainable communities.
“Together, we’re delivering more than housing, we’re delivering hope and opportunity.”
For more information on Morro Partnerships, please visit morropartnerships.co.uk or follow on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/morropartnerships .
To learn more about YMCA Black Country Group, please visit www.ymcabc.org.uk
Visit www.whg.uk.com for more information on whg.