26-05-2025
Inside once 'gang-run' tower block where residents were told not to make a sound
It's an inner-city tower block estate once dubbed a 'no-go zone' where drugs and crime blighted the community.
But fast forward to 2025, and residents say things have changed for the better in Heath Town, Wolverhampton.
As the sun shimmered down on a warm May lunchtime, people walked the streets, happy and smiling.
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A £150million project is currently taking place to regenerate the estate known locally as 'Fire Town', which was opened by Princess Margaret back in 1967.
You'll find as many builders walking the streets as residents, donned in hard hats and high-vis jackets.
The project has seen outdated buildings ripped down, flats colourfully revamped, and new houses built.
A former resident told BlackCountryLive that the estate was once a "no-go zone." However, he said it was much quieter today and pointed out that the estate enjoys a multi-cultural community.
United Living, which is delivering the regeneration work on behalf of Wolverhampton council, said more than 40 languages are spoken on the estate.
A woman who lived in a house on Chervil Rise, near to the tower blocks, said: "It was only other people coming here and causing issues," referring to past issues of crime.
She added: "I'm alright, I have bought my house."
Long-term resident Dennis, aged 86, who was born in Jamaica, said: "I have lived here for quite a long time. It has changed a lot.
"You used to have these guys and drugs all over the place, making noises, you don't have that much now.
"We used to have the police station over there, but we don't have it now. Things are much different."
A 17-year-old woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's pretty quiet here, before it used to be hectic, some parts of it are still like that.
"I don't really see anything, though."
During a visit by BlackCountryLive in April 2022, a mum recalled how crime used to be a big problem on the estate.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, settled in Heath Town as a refugee from Somalia.
She told BlackCountryLive crime was no longer a problem but added: "But before we used to see them," referring to 'they' as gang members.
"They told us 'don't snitch and you will be okay," she continued. "All these boys went to jail.
"It was a gang, the 'Fire Boys', they have names."
As part of the regeneration project which has received multiple award, 200 new homes are being built across nine sites.
While 36 maisonettes and a shopping centre have been demolished on Chervil Rise.
Elsewhere, residential blocks have been refurbished on the inside and out, and fitted with thermal cladding, while heating systems and doors have been upgraded, new car parking spaces have been added and new play areas created.
The estate appears transformed from when the project started in 2017, with residential blocks featuring strips of blue, green and orange on their outside.
A spokesperson for United Living said: "We are committed to community-led place making. This means residents are at the heart of any regeneration project.
"The main challenge has been resident engagement. More than 40 languages are spoken among the residents, and the fact that not all are fluent in English means engagement in formal consultations is typically low.
"A dedicated Heath Town community liaison team has been onsite throughout the project, and working collaboratively with Wolverhampton Homes, we invested time and resources to understand the residents' objectives and ensure our approach was built around their priorities."
The project picked up the The Regeneration & Conservation Award in May, while it previously won the UK Housing Award for best neighbourhood transformation in 2022.
It's set to be completed by 2028.
