Spades hit ground on 39-home community-owned development in South Birmingham

Stirchley Co-operative Development (SCD), a community-led housing and retail development in South Birmingham, has broken ground on 39 new homes.Construction will now soon begin on a democratically owned and run 39 new homes and three fit-for-purpose retail units for long-established Stirchley community businesses.After project plans were unanimously approved by Birmingham City Council in 2021, SCD purchased the site from Seven Capital last summer after securing significant funding from Homes England and the European Interreg NWE.Construction of the three-storey development is scheduled to complete around autumn 2024.Tricas Construction will carry out the build using the modular closed-panel timber-frame method developed by Black Country manufacturer LoCaL Homes.The overall cost of the development, for which work was announced in March, is set to be £10.4m.Mike Doolan, Sales and Partnership Manager at LoCaL Homes, said: “We are excited to be part of this innovative development, which will help to meet local housing need.“This community-led project is setting an example for others to follow in the provision of affordable and energy-efficient homes.“Our offsite manufactured timber frames will help speed up construction times and reduce the environmental impact of this development.”The scheme has been welcomed by the Stirchley community, with the planning application receiving over 300 positive recommendations, including from local business owners, community leaders, and elected officials.The site will include over 100 secure bike parking spaces donated by the Commonwealth Games organisers, and car ownership will be restricted through membership agreements.Bea Hughes, SCD board member and volunteer, said: “This is a massive step forward for Stirchley, the culmination of years of hard work.“I’m excited to be helping build more public space for the community in this project.“Free of cars and affordable for tenants, it gives us hope in response to the rising cost of living and the climate crisis.”Steve McCabe, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, added: “This is a community-led development, it is the kind of proposal that allows Birmingham to innovate and be a leader.“It’s about local people coming together to provide quality, affordable housing, to those in need and create retail space to allow three businesses to expand and grow.“This is a refreshing change from the normal profit-led developments by companies whose shareholders have no interest in Stirchley.”Founded in 2016, SCD is made up of members from two local housing co-operatives and three local businesses, including a bakery and cookery school, an art space and café, and a bicycle repair shop.The not-for-profit, mixed-use development has received project support from housing and social care provider GreenSquareAccord.Image: Foreground (L-R) Cllr John Cotton, leader of Birmingham City Council; Bea Hughes, SCD board member; and Carl Taylor, assistant director of New Business, GreenSquareAccord. Background: SCD members and volunteersRead next: New CEO takes the reins at HousemarkAre you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.