Work commences on new housing development

Birmingham City Council and Housing 21 are bucking the economic trend by working in partnership to start construction on a new multi-million extra care housing development in Turves Green, Northfield.

To mark the start of construction, a new footpath in Turves Green was walked for the first time in a celebratory ceremony.

Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing was joined by representatives from development partners Housing 21, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and contractors Inspace Partnerships to take the first steps.

The scheme at Turves Green will provide 87 apartments and 8 bungalows for city residents who are aged 55 and over. Residents will have their own home in a communal scheme with 24 hour care and support services should they need them. The total scheme will bring £11 million of investment to this area of the city.

Councillor John Lines said: “We are delighted to be working with Housing 21, HCA and Inspace Partnerships on building this extra care development in Turves Green, particularly during these testing economic times.  I am pleased that the delivery of the Turves Green scheme will help keep people in jobs and retain a skills base in construction in this city.”

Elaine Elkington, Acting Strategic Director of Housing and Constituencies, added: “This development is part of our broader vision to provide a better choice of suitable accommodation for older citizens across Birmingham. It will give improved choice of housing and help older people maintain as much independence as possible, whilst being able to feel part of a thriving, self-sustainable community.”

By 2016, there is estimated to be an additional 17,000 pensioner households in Birmingham.

Les Clarke, Director of Older Peoples’ services for Housing 21 said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Birmingham City Council on this very exciting project to provide new homes for people aged 55 and over. The added values this offers to older residents is control of their lives to enjoy a range of on-site facilities and flexible care and support services.”
Each 2 bedroom home is designed for wheelchair access and will have its own sitting room, fully fitted kitchen and walk-in shower. Communal facilities will include residents’ lounge, restaurant, hairdressing salon and landscaped gardens.

Inspace Partnerships will build the apartments to the high specification required to meet the needs of elderly residents, using the latest building technology, which has delivered major efficiency gains on previous projects.

The project, which will have options for rent, shared ownership and outright sale, has received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Christine Seaton, investment manager at the Homes and Communities Agency in the West Midlands said, “The delivery of extra care housing in Birmingham demonstrates our partnership approach, by working with Birmingham City Council to commission and select Housing 21 to develop these high quality affordable homes, and to help us deliver the City’s vision for housing for older people. Our objective is that our investment provides a range of housing options that meet the needs of the whole community, and we ensure that older people have access to these homes. The new homes at Turves Green deliver on this objective”.