The demolition of a former fire station and library in Bromsgrove is now underway. 

The site, which is located on Windsor Street, includes the former library, a council office block, a fire station, accommodation and a training tower for firefighters. 

The demolition of the derelict site was approved in full during a planning committee meeting in June following the final comments from WRS Contamination. 

The plans came after Bromsgrove District Council was awarded £14.5m through the government’s Levelling Up Fund to be invested in projects to improve Bromsgrove Town Centre. 

Four sites in Bromsgrove were identified as part of the 2040 vision including the Windsor Street site, which has been described by residents as an "eyesore" and has been subject to vandalism over the years. 

Bromsgrove District Council has now confirmed that the demolition work has started with the site expected to be cleared by the end of the financial year ready for future development. 

Bromsgrove District Council planning portal Bromsgrove District Council planning portal (Image: Bromsgrove District Council planning portal) A spokesperson for Bromsgrove District Council said: "The demolition work has started and the Council are expecting to have a cleared, secure site by the end of this financial year ready for future development.    

"As part of this, the buildings are likely to be demolished by Christmas. Following this, groundwater remediation works will continue to ensure the site is clean prior to any future developments." 

Plans for the site have not been confirmed but a previous application to redevelop the site and use it for residential care accommodation was withdrawn in 2021. 

The start of the demolition work comes as the government announced a multi-million-pound funding boost for 54 councils to help them unlock brownfield sites to create thousands of new homes. 

This category of land is expensive to prepare for housebuilding meaning sites are often left empty and an eyesore for local communities. 

The funding will mean councils can clear empty buildings, former car parks and industrial land to make way for the homes.

Bromsgrove is set to receive a share of almost £5.4 million for the new homes. 

The building is derelict The building is derelict (Image: Bromsgrove District Council planning portal) With the funding, delivered through the Brownfield Land Release Fund, councils will be able to cover the cost of decontamination, clearing disused buildings or improving infrastructure such as internet, water and power. 

Councillor Karen May, leader of Bromsgrove District Council, said: "I am delighted that this announcement has been made because whilst there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes, this demonstrates that the project is gaining momentum. 

"Soon our residents will see action at these sites as we begin to transform the derelict buildings into much-needed housing provision in our town centre."