Housebuilder buys land at former Blue Bird toffee factory site

Part of the former Blue Bird toffee factory site at Hunnington in Worcestershire has been bought by Bellway South Midlands so that the land can be regenerated for housing.Toffee making stopped at the sweet factory off Bromsgrove Road in 1998 and now the site is set to enter a new era, with Bellway planning to build 86 properties where the factory buildings stood.The Bellway development is part of a wider project to build 108 homes in all.The other 22 properties will be created by another developer through the refurbishment of two listed buildings on the former factory site.Detailed planning permission is already in place and Bellway hopes to start work on site in early 2023.Land director at Bellway South Midlands, Dan Forrester, said: “The redevelopment of the former Blue Bird toffee factory is an exciting opportunity to provide new housing on a self-contained brownfield site which lies within easy reach of local amenities and the surrounding countryside.“Our new homes will complement the retained listed buildings on site and the neighbouring ‘model village’ homes to reflect the site’s heritage as a 1920s factory which also provided housing nearby for its workers.“The fact that we completed on this purchase in just 20 working days after the acceptance of our offer shows our commitment to this scheme and highlights the dedication and hard work that has already gone into this project.“Acquiring this land means Bellway can continue to help meet the growing demand for new housing, which is our focus in Worcestershire, as well as in neighbouring areas.“We are therefore keen to hear about other sites in the area that might be suitable for our high-quality, well-planned new homes.”