Colleagues from the Development and Construction teams of Greensquareaccord (GSA) gathered at Springvale Bowling Club on Millfields Road, Bilston, for an open morning on Saturday, 15 June.
We are working in partnership with GSA to build 57 new, energy-efficient social homes on land adjacent to the Bowling Club. This development, known as ‘Springvale,’ is now in its second phase, with the first phase having already provided 24 affordable rental homes, consisting of one- and two-bedroom apartments, on a former office space.
The second phase of the Springvale scheme is being constructed using our sustainable timber frames. The design employs a fabric-first approach, helping customers save on heating bills. We also played a crucial role in delivering the first phase of the scheme.
Mike Doolan, Sales and Partnerships Manager at LoCaL Homes, said, “By constructing the homes using our timber frame panel system in a quality-controlled factory environment, the overall speed of construction will be accelerated, resulting in quicker handovers and earlier occupancy.
“As the homes’ fabric is made from a sustainable material, it will capture more carbon than traditional construction methods and will be much more thermally efficient. This will subsequently help with the running costs, resulting in lower fuel bills for customers.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with both the City of Wolverhampton Council and GSA. We will continue to provide energy-efficient homes for the residents of Bilston.”
David Norris, Head of Construction at GSA, remarked, “This second phase of our Springvale development is transforming the now demolished Springvale Sports and Social Club into much-needed social homes.
“We enjoy a strong working relationship with Springvale Bowling Club, who have been accommodating while construction is underway. The open day was a chance for us to say thank you to club members, celebrate progress made on site so far, and get to know each other a little better.”
During the open day, colleagues were taught how to play bowls by club members, but the heavy rainfall prevented the scheduled friendly tournament. The practice session was followed by a buffet lunch and hot drinks, providing comfort amid the inclement weather.
Mark Bircumshaw, Chair of Springvale Bowls Club, stated, “We had a great bowls session with GSA, and it was nice to meet those who braved the weather to take part. We have been working with staff on site since the building work commenced and have managed to keep our league fixtures running despite being located next to an active building site.
“We have been grateful for all the assistance from GSA, which has enabled us to start planning for the club’s future. We will be looking to run additional taster sessions for bowls over the coming months to help grow our membership.”
Local councillors representing Ettingshall North Ward on the City of Wolverhampton Council also supported the open day at Springvale Bowling Club. Councillors Jeszemma Howl, Zee Russell, and Jennifer Cockayne, along with club members, were given a guided tour of the second phase of the Springvale development.
Commenting on the visit, Councillor Jeszemma Howl said, “We were all delighted to recently attend Springvale Bowling Club for a match between GSA and the members. Although rain stopped play, we had a great time meeting with the members of the club, who were generous with their time and expertise and helped us to see the benefits of the sport for everyone.
“This space is crucial to the wellbeing of our residents, and supporting this gem in our ward is so important. We were very interested to see the progress being made with the new apartments, just next door on the site of the old Steelworks. These one- and two-bed properties are built to the highest standard, using the latest technology and insulation, and will be a huge asset to the area.”
Construction on the second phase of the Springvale development is set to be completed in early 2025.
