Bilston health & wellbeing facility funding and development set to be approved

Monday, 10 July 2023 15:55

A computer generated image of what the new Bilston health & wellbeing facility could look like next to WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams

City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet is set to approve the funding and development of a new multi-million-pound Bilston health & wellbeing facility.

The public were consulted on exciting designs for the proposed facility at a series of events at Bilston market and online.

Cabinet members will now be asked to approve the project at their next meeting on Wednesday (July 12), ahead of it being considered by Full Council, and an outline planning application being submitted for this important community asset.

The proposal outlines that the state-of-the-art health & wellbeing facility will be mostly funded from the £20million Government grant the council secured for its transformative Bilston Health & Regeneration Programme in March.

The facility will bring together partners and providers from the health, social care and wellbeing and leisure sectors to support around 18,000 residents and will be located conveniently next to WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams leisure centre - connecting it to extensive public space improvements and Bilston’s public transport hub.

It will also act as an anchor within the community, investing in early intervention and prevention, giving access to a campus that builds resilience, integrates and transforms primary and community services and brings care closer to people's homes - connecting people, communities and place.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Acting Leader and Cabinet Member for Inclusive City Economy, said: “This new facility will provide invaluable health and wellbeing services for the local community.

“The feedback we have had from residents and stakeholders has been hugely positive and their input has been invaluable in developing plans for what will be an important community asset.

“The facility will be located where it can benefit the community the most, right in the centre, making it highly accessible and underpinned by investment in high-quality public realm and connectivity.

“We want our traditional local centres to flourish, and this scheme builds substantially on the investment already made in Bilston in recent years.”