A HISTORIC Wordsley site is set for a £20m makeover after planners approved a scheme to regenerate a derelict canal-side glassworks.

The former Stuart Crystal Works, Camp Hill, is to be redeveloped into a major new housing complex, despite fears over extra traffic on the already congested A491.

London based Complex Development Projects (CDP) bought the land three years ago and plan to build a total of 143 apartments plus nine office suites on the site, which lies within the Stourbridge Sixteen Locks Conservation Area.

CDP director Ian Harrabin said: "This is a key site for so many reasons, not only wonderfully located by the canal but it is a site of industrial importance as the home of one of the most important glass works in the country.

"We fully recognise those sensitivities and we feel we have come up with a scheme that will restore and bring back to use the key historic buildings on this site."

The site contains two listed buildings plus the The Whitehouse Cone, which is a scheduled ancient monument.

CDP plans to preserve the remains of the cone by creating a piece of public artwork at the site entrance to remind visitors of its significance.

Councillors on Dudley's Development Control Committee unanimously gave the scheme a green light at a meeting on Monday (August 6), after visiting the site earlier in the month.

Residents submitted petitions containing a total of 220 signatures to the council objecting to the plan, claiming the development would overpower existing buildings.

Objectors also claim extra traffic would create road safety problems on Marine Crescent, Junction Road and Argyle Close.

Councillors accepted a report which said the development would generate less traffic than the previous industrial use of the site and existing roads are capable of coping with predicted vehicle movements.

Wordsley councillor Harry Nottingham says the site has become a popular haunt for yobs and must be brought back to life.

Cllr Nottingham said: "The site has been vandalised and is getting groups of youths up to no good.

"It cannot be left as it is and I hope the development will be done with the minimum of inconvenience to neighbouring residents."

Work on the scheme is expected to start next spring 2008 and should be completed by the end of 2009.