More social housing on the way as Mayor announces latest investment

Mayor Richard Parker has announced funding for another new housing scheme as his mission to deliver more social and affordable homes gathers pace.

The investment, under his ‘Homes for Everyone’ priority, has unlocked derelict industrial land in Acocks Green, Birmingham for redevelopment.

The site, in Warwick Road, will see 32 social rent homes and 14 rent to buy properties and will be constructed by T R Partnership Homes for housing association Citizen.

From left to right: Mark Bradbury, partner at Thornton Firkin, Josh Skidmore, director TR Partnership Homes, Sal Shabir, WMCA development manager, Steve Thompson, director TR Partnership Homes, and Nick Byrne, Citizen’s executive director of development at the Warwick Road development site.

Building more homes on derelict industrial land, often referred to as brownfield, is a cornerstone of the Mayor’s Growth Plan to drive a new era of prosperity in all parts of the region.

The Plan sets out a roadmap for the creation of 100,000 good jobs in fast-growing industries and getting tens of thousands of residents into work, improving public transport, and building 120,000 homes.

The Mayor has set a target for the region to be building 2,000 social rent homes, the most affordable type of housing, each year by 2028 to help reduce the number of people living in poor quality private rents or temporary accommodation.

Latest figures show that across the West Midlands there are 7,450 households, including 14,976 children, living in temporary accommodation and 65,335 households on social housing waiting lists.

The investment into the Warwick Road scheme means that since taking office in May last year the Mayor has used West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) funding to unlock sites that will provide more than 1,600 affordable homes, including more than 700 homes for social rent, which is more than in all the schemes the WMCA has ever grant funded.

The Mayor said: “We need to be building more homes that are truly affordable for local people – like these in Warwick Road - if we are to begin fixing this housing crisis.

“Everyone deserves a warm, safe and affordable home but too many families are having to wait too long, living in expensive and often poor quality rented or temporary accommodation. 

“I’m committed to changing those people’s lives for the better which is why I’ve unlocked more social housing at a quicker pace than ever before. 

“But we need to go faster. My Growth Plan sets out a road map to fire up our economy, build more affordable housing and support our SMEs so people can find good jobs close to home, housing that is affordable, and transport that just works.”

TR Partnership Homes was set up just 18 months ago but securing the Acocks Green scheme has enabled it to get a commercial foothold in what is a challenging market for smaller house building developer contractors.

The scheme has helped safeguard 15 jobs at TR Partnerships Homes and its sister company TR Civil Engineering (Central & Southern) and enabled the company to take on a new trainee.

Support to help the region’s Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) grow, create new jobs and drive prosperity is also a key part of the Mayor’s Growth Plan.

TR Partnership Homes, part of the TR Group of Companies, is evolving into a true family enterprise. Founded by Andrew Thorpe, Steve Taylor, Josh Skidmore and Steve Thompson, the business now includes Steve’s son and daughter as part of the growing team.

Steve Thompson said: “Without the support of the WMCA, this affordable housing scheme simply wouldn’t have been viable. Access to the WMCA funding has been vital in helping us bring this project to life and to deliver high-quality homes for people who need them most.

“As a newly established SME operating in a competitive and challenging market, having the opportunity to work in partnership with the WMCA has allowed TR Partnership Homes to gain a firm commercial footing.

“SMEs like ours play a crucial role in the delivery of affordable housing, and support from regional bodies is essential to help emerging contractors establish themselves and grow sustainably in this sector.”

Nick Byrne, executive director of development at Citizen, said: “We’re proud to be working with the West Midlands Combined Authority, Homes England and TR Partnership Homes to deliver scarce social rent and rent to buy homes in Acocks Green.

“At Citizen, we’re committed to tackling the housing crisis by providing high-quality, genuinely affordable homes where they’re needed most. This scheme will not only offer people long-term security, but also support a local, growing construction business, helping to build stronger communities in the region.”

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing refers to homes for sale or rent for people whose needs are not met by the private market.

• Social Rent is the most affordable type of housing – and is made available at around 50% of the local market rent
• Affordable Rent properties are available for around 20% less than the local market rent
• Rent to Buy enables people to rent a property at a discounted rate, typically 20% below market rent, with the option to purchase it later, either outright or through shared ownership 
• Shared Ownership sees rent set at a percentage of the unsold equity of the property