New football pitch adds to Heath Town transformation

Children in Heath Town, Wolverhampton, are enjoying the chance to hone their football skills for the season ahead thanks to a new grass pitch developed as part of major transformation works on the housing estate.

City of Wolverhampton Council has invested in the Inkerman Street pitch and goalposts so families have green space to take part in physical activity on their doorsteps.

The new pitch and posts come in addition to an extensive demolition programme of vacant buildings, major improvements to existing residential blocks undertaken by Wolverhampton Homes and the start of construction works on new council homes. Further works include the refurbishment of the ground and lower ground floors of Ling House to provide new office, meeting and activity space for Hope Family Centre and the creation of three new play areas, with further plans for a green gym.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for city assets and housing, said:

This new football pitch is a welcome addition to the existing improvements taking place on the estate.? These new play areas and facilities will complement the new housing development, which consists mostly of family homes, and encourage families to take part in physical activity.

The Heath Town estate is being transformed and it was wonderful to see the smiles this football pitch has brought to the children’s faces as well as the health and wellbeing benefit it will bring them.”

Julie Haydon, Wolverhampton Homes’ assistant director of corporate services, said:

We know how important outdoor space is to communities, particularly after the past year when so many people spent more time indoors due to Covid-19 restrictions. The football pitch provides residents with quality outdoor space to enjoy the fresh air and participate in group exercise, which as we all know, is proven to boost physical and mental wellbeing. We hope this new football pitch will be enjoyed by current and future generations for many years to come.”

Image caption (L-R): Joy McLaren, Tenants Equality and Diversity Champion and Wolverhampton Homes Board Member,?Cllr Bhupinder Gakhal, Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, and Julie Haydon, Wolverhampton Homes?Director Corporate Services, with children from Heath Town’s Hope Community Project.

ENDS