Housing specialists Frank Haslam Milan West Midlands (FHM), a Keepmoat company, has gone back to school to refurbish a disused caretaker’s house for the benefit of the community.
The Coleshill-based firm celebrated the official opening of the community resource centre alongside partners Family Housing Association (FHA) and Be Birmingham’s Environmental Partnership at Nechells Primary School in Eliot Street, Birmingham.
FHM refurbished the caretaker’s house using eco designs and converted it into a drop in centre for the public to use as a hub of community engagement.
It is hoped the caretaker’s house will be used as a “hot desk” facility by the credit union, local councillors, the police, fire brigade, a youth organisation and 21 housing associations including FHA.
Nechells Primary School has leased the caretaker’s house to FHA rent free, FHM refurbished the premises free of charge and Be Birmingham, the city’s local strategic partnership, provided £10,000 of funding for a range of eco products to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
Debra Thomas, the headteacher at Nechells Primary School, said: “We decided to lease the caretaker’s house to the Family Housing Association as we want it to be used as a valuable resource for the community.
“FHM has done a fantastic job converting the premises and the hot-desks will be used to offer ongoing advice to tenants.”
As part of the opening ceremony, Nechells primary school unveiled a vegetable patch and an allotment cultivated by the schoolchildren.
The pupils received support from the long-term unemployed who are currently undertaking a pathways training programme and are seeking careers in construction.
Dave Cartwright, FHM’s Trainee Contracts Manager, said: “The caretaker’s house has actually been derelict for four years and so the renovation work is a fantastic use of resources. We refurbished the caretaker’s house with a grant obtained by Be Birmingham for eco-fittings.
“FHM absorbed all management costs and donated new fittings and fixtures including new central heating and kitchen and bathroom works. We feel the caretaker’s project is a fantastic sustainable regeneration project to give back to the community.”
FHM decided to carry out the work free of charge after embarking on a £2.6 million Government Decent Homes programme with Family Housing Association. The work involved kitchen and bathroom up-grades and installing new heating systems and PVC windows to properties across Birmingham.
FHM and Family Housing Association are major players in the regeneration of Birmingham, working closely with local communities to enhance people’s quality of life through the supply of affordable housing.
Claire Hardwick, Head of Community Investment at Family Housing Association, said: “We are delighted that by working with FHM and Be Birmingham we have been able to support Nechells Primary School and turn this long standing empty property into a valuable community resource.”
Keith Budden, Manager of the Birmingham Environmental Partnership, added: “This property is an excellent example of improving energy efficiency- moving from a poor E to a good C energy rating. We are delighted to work with organisations such as FHM and Family Housing who are committed to the environment and who invest in the future of Birmingham’s young people by having an active apprenticeship programme. “