Former Residents Make Way for £25 Million Housing Development in South Birmingham
10 March 2008
Eighty five years old Bob Hill (pictured) with four other former residents of Black Haynes Road in Shenley, South Birmingham helped to demolish the maisonette where he used to live.
Brian Field, Bob and Christine Hill, Kathleen Clements and her grandson Robert watched as the giant excavator ate its way through the 1950’s and 1960’s flats and maisonettes which were built by Bournville Village Trust, a Birmingham housing association and developer, established by George Cadbury in 1900.
Demolition of the Lower Shenley estate, by contractor, DSM Demolition, will make way for 167 new social renting and owner occupied homes. The Housing Corporation has provided grant aid for the £25 million housing development.
"I used to live at number ten." said Mr. Hill. "My three girls were born there. I have lots of good memories when we were all good neighbours together." He continued.
Bournville Village Trust is currently out to tender for the eighteen month contract for the main building work. A contractor appointment will be made in June when work will start on site, with completion scheduled for 2009. All homes will be constructed to the newly introduced Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 environmental standard.
Other innovative techniques will include a pioneering street design where people and cars share the same carriageway and pavements. Home Zones, first introduced by the Dutch provide a safer community. The particular design for residential areas encourages cars to only travel a little faster than walking pace – 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.
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.
Local shopping facilities in Shenley 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, Development Manager 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."
