Pioneering Technique Leads to Safer Communities

November 07 2007

A new technique is to be pioneered on the streets of South Birmingham which will provide a safer community. Home Zones, first introduced by the Dutch will be used within the Shenley area which is undergoing a £25 million regeneration.

Bournville Village Trust, a Birmingham housing association and developer, established by George Cadbury will introduce the innovative system where people and cars share the same carriageway and pavements.

The particular design for residential areas encourages cars to only travel a little faster than walking pace in that area - less than 10mph. The thinking behind a Home Zone, is that other things can then be introduced into the street - areas for children to play in, larger gardens and areas for residents to meet. People will be encouraged to spend more time at the front of their homes, on the street, which will lead to safer communities.

Planning permission for the Shenley development was secured in September this year for the provision of 167 homes which will include a mixture of social renting and owner occupied homes, all constructed to the newly introduced Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 environmental standard. Bournville Village Trust already provides an unprecedented amount of landscaping in all its developments, following the philosophy of their founder, George Cadbury when he built the first model village in Bournville.

The Lower Shenley redevelopment is due to start on site in January 2008 with completion scheduled for Summer 2010.

Phase One of the major redevelopment is already complete and includes fifty six new bungalows, flats and homes as well as unprecedented levels of landscaping, some public artwork and unique security lighting. One hundred 1950's and 1960's style flats and maisonettes at Shenley Green and Shenley Gardens were demolished to make way for the new scheme.

Local shopping facilities were upgraded and the car park extended, paving and lighting have been renewed and there is now a close circuit television. The medical centre has state of the art facilities and there is a new park with specifically commissioned public art work.

Hitesh Champaneri at Bournville Village Trust said: "The proposals are a comprehensive approach to redevelopment and include safety features and high quality design that relate well to its context."