A major regeneration project in North West Birmingham has had a significant visual impact in an area which is within the top 10% of the most deprived wards in the country and Baroness Kay Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, visited the project in December to see how the programme is making a difference.
Over £10m has been spent on the initiative, which has included the provision of family homes that people can afford and restoring Victorian properties to their former glory. Local schools have also been involved, linking the regeneration project to the national curriculum, ensuring that children’s views have been taken on board.
Summerfield is located one mile from the city centre and had problems of high crime rates, unemployment, environmental problems, low educational attainment and serious health issues. However, after many months of hard work by a local housing association and Birmingham City Council, there is now real potential for the area to become a thriving neighbourhood.
Family Housing Association (Birmingham) Ltd has led the project, working very closely with the city council, local residents and Urban Living, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder for Birmingham and Sandwell.
Included in the improvements, Family H.A. has refurbished fourteen properties on Link Road. With £1.54m funding from Urban Living, the properties have been extensively renovated to provide ten family homes for shared ownership sale from £80,000 at 50% share and three properties for affordable rent. Also one resident, Mr Markham, will benefit from a whole house refurbishment.
Mr Markham said “I have lived on Link Road for about 40 years and I am very happy with the work that is being done. I’ve temporarily moved to one of the other properties until my home has been refurbished and I’m looking forward to seeing the new flooring, kitchen, and en-suite that is being fitted. The house will also be completely re-decorated and central heating is being installed, so it will be like a new home for me. The contractors and Family have kept me informed of their progress and it should all be finished by the end of March.’
As well as the refurbishments on Link Road, Family H.A. has transformed Summerfield Crescent and Gillott Road with £1.5m funding from Birmingham City Council. Dilapidated front and side boundary walls have been replaced to nearly 300 properties.
A number of properties in the area are also being deconverted from properties in multiple occupation to provide much needed family homes and £341,000 is being spent on an environmental improvement project in nearby Marroway Street.
Tim Sewell, Chief Executive at Family Housing Association said ‘as a preferred Development and Management Partner of Birmingham City Council in the area, the regeneration of Summerfield has been an exciting project for Family. We have over 300 rented homes in the neighbourhood and with the help of all our partners and the local residents, we have been able to deliver a range of social and physical improvements on time and to the highest possible standards. Confidence in the area is starting to grow and we hope that with our interventions, Summerfield will once again be a place where people want to and choose to live.’
Rod Griffin, Acting Co-ordinator for Urban Living, said ‘The progress made in this area shows what can be done to bring new life into neighbourhoods, making them areas of choice for residents. Urban Living is pleased to be involved in these actions’.