Hundreds of new homes set for Midlands as part of £100 million programme

The Matrix Housing Partnership today announced plans to build over 700 affordable new homes for people across the Midlands at a cost of more than £100 million.

Matrix, a housing development partnership between Accord, Ashram, Caldmore, Rooftop and Trident Housing Associations, plan to build 711 homes in Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley, Redditch, Coventry and Worcestershire, over the next three years.

Many of the homes will incorporate ‘green’ features such as water butts, compost bins and recycling boxes, moving Accord one step closer to its goal of becoming the ‘greenest housing association in the UK’.

The £106 million programme will include the development of the former WH Keys site in Church Lane, West Bromwich. The three-hectare site will boast 150 new houses and apartments to buy or rent once it is completed.

New air-source heat-pumps, which extract warmth from the air and use it for central heating to slash bills and energy use, will be piloted in the majority of the apartments and houses.

The homes will also be fitted out with the country’s first 100% environmentally-friendly kitchens.

Lakhbir Jaspal, Deputy Chief Executive at Accord Housing Association, said: “This is one of our most ambitious programmes to date and we are delighted to be involved.

“At a time when the number of new houses being built is plummeting we are proud that we can continue to provide affordable housing for people across the region.

“Matrix is committed to delivering high quality developments which regenerate major sites in the Midlands and this programme will demonstrate our ability and determination to do this.

“There will be a mix of flats and houses, many of which will be shared ownership to help people get on to the property ladder.”

The £106m programme includes a £22m social housing grant from the Housing Corporation.