Express & Star

From football to property investment - a career change for Bully

He scored more than 200 goals for Wolves - but now club legend Steve Bull hopes to hit the back of the net with his first step into property investment.

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He has bought one of six penthouse apartments being created at the top of a former office block on the Waterfront in Brierley Hill.

The 49-year-old says he intends to remain living in Compton Park in Wolverhampton while he rents out the new two-bedroom property.

Steve takes a look at what will be his view from his penthouse

It is one of six penthouses to be created at the top of the former Point North site, which is being converted into a 181-apartment block.

The penthouses are priced at £124,950. Four remain up for sale, along with a third of the rest of the flats in the block.

An artist's impression of the new flats

They will be ready next October as the redevelopment by Seven Capital begins to take hold at the site, which will be re-branded The Landmark

Bully, who grew up on the Moat Farm Estate in Tipton, said: "It's great to go back to where it started and see what I can do here.

"When the Waterfront first came up it was a busy, thriving place. But in recent years it's fallen away a bit.

An artist's impression of the new flats

"I'm hoping this project will pick the area up and see restaurants and bars return to the canal's edge.

"It's nice to be fortunate enough to be an ex-footballer and be able to do something like this."

See also: 'Phenomenal response' to Brierley Hill luxury apartments.

An artist's impression of the new flats

Bully, who is Wolves' record top goalscorer with 306 goals in 561 games, got involved after Seven Capital marketing boss Andy Foote called him up.

He said: "Andy is an old friend of mine and he rang me up when he got into the venture, asking me to come and take a look.

"He showed me the plans and I checked out the site. What they want to do impressed me and I liked the views from the penthouse.

"It's exciting coming back each time to see the work edging closer to completion."

Bully has purchased a penthouse which has views looking over the canal and toward the Merry Hill shopping centre.

Steve with Andy Foote, sales director for Developers Seven Capital outside the building

Transformation of the block has still some way to go. Workers are currently stripping out the seven-floor high building before electrical wiring will be fitted in, along with a sanitary system.

Mr Foote said: "We have had interest come in from all over the world, but it is good to have local people on board.

"I am particularly pleased Steve has bought a flat because of what he has done for sport in this area."

Mr Foote said while they were receiving strong interest from investors, dozens of people were also calling each day to enquire about renting.

He said the finished flats would have fitted granite kitchens and wooden floors. A lift goes up to the first five floors.

Overall, the apartment block will consist of a mix of one-bed, two-bed and penthouse flats, ranging from £69,000 to £125,000.

The building had been empty for five years after insurance firm Egg moved out.

Bully is currently vice-president at Wolves and he also owns an Italian restaurant called Bravaccio's in Tettenhall.

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