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An ambitious £17.2 million six-year regeneration project, which has transformed a council estate in the shadow of the former Rover factory in Birmingham, has been completed.
The project received £8.5million of funding from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) and has seen a total of 142 outdated council homes on the Nimmings Farm estate, in Longbridge, demolished and replaced with 172 new homes on the newly named Groveley Park.
Built by WM Housing Group on land acquired from Birmingham City Council, the new homes are part of a wider £1billion regeneration of Longbridge which involves more than 400 acres of land set to be transformed on the site of the former MG Rover works.
The new homes, available for rent, shared ownership, market rent and outright sale, consist of two, three and four bedroom houses, as well as two bedroom flats and bungalows. The properties are managed by Harden Housing Association, a part of WM Housing Group.
Residents and organisations involved in the regeneration project celebrated the completion of the housing development at an official opening and residents ‘Fun Day’ on Wednesday, July 27.
They were joined by Cabinet Member for Housing at Birmingham City Council Cllr John Lines and Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) area manager Midlands, David Rhead.
Seventy-eight-year-old Molly Gardner, who has lived on the Nimmings Farm estate for 49 years, was one of the first residents to move back when the first phase of homes was completed.
Molly, who lives with her husband Arthur, 77, said: “The redevelopment has made a big difference. People who come here comment on how lovely it is and how different the homes are now.
“It feels like the area has moved on and is a much better place to live now. We loved our old house, but the houses before had been there a long time and they all looked the same. Now there is a nice mix of different types of homes and the outlook is much better.”
Molly was a part of the Estate Development Group, a group set up to involve residents in the project. She added: “It has all been worth the hard work and effort from everyone involved. It is wonderful to see it all finished.”
Cabinet Member for Housing at Birmingham City Council Cllr John Lines said: “The completion of this scheme is testimony to the excellent partnership working between the City Council, the HCA, Harden Housing Association and the local community. Together we have been able to provide mixed tenure homes for local people and a new neighbourhood park, creating a sustainable neighbourhood where people want to live.”
Two homes have been constructed to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 which is the highest rating achievable under current government targets and are the first to be built in the West Midlands using HCA funding.
Six flats have also been developed by Advance Housing to provide accommodation for people with learning disabilities. Residents took handover of the keys in June 2011.
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Resident Molly Garner, who has lived on the former Nimmings Farm estate at Longbridge for 49 years, celebrates the opening of the new homes at the now called Groveley Park which has been regenerated by WM Housing Group.
From left, chief executive of WM Housing Group Pat Brandum, with Northfield resident Molly Gardner, who has lived in the Nimmings Farm Estate, now called Groveley Park for 49 years, and Cllr John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing at Birmingham City Council.
Chief executive of WM Housing Group Pat Brandum said: “It is an exciting day to see the completion of what has been a successful and significant partnership development. Not only have we been focused on rebuilding homes but we have helped rebuild the confidence of the area.
“We are committed to developing communities that people are proud to live and work in and this has been a key project in demonstrating the extent to which this can be fulfilled.”
Area manager for the HCA Midlands, David Rhead said; “We are really pleased to have supported WM Housing to deliver this ambitious scheme. It is pioneering zero carbon social housing in Birmingham as well as signalling a major step forward in the wider regeneration of the Longbridge area.”
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