Major Milestones
2005
Ground-breaking start at Lightmoor Village in Telford, Shropshire, where the first phase of the 800-home "second Bournville" village gets underway.
Completion of a further 42 new homes, designed by Bournville Architects, in the Shenley regeneration scheme.
Bournville’s Community Youth Forum created, focussing on projects in the Hole Farm area of Bournville.
HRH Princess Alexandra opens Beech Spinney in Shropshire, the CARE Ironbridge residential and respite centre for adults with multiple learning disabilities.
Bournville’s Quaker Meeting House celebrates its centenary.
2004
Phase 1 of BVT’s £10 million Shenley redevelopment is opened by local MP, Richard Burden. This phase includes 12 bungalows, 54 new homes, refurbished shops and a brand new medical centre, all in a landscaped setting.
Specially - commissioned sundial within the new development is unveiled by Peter Dixon, Chairman of the Housing Corporation.
Mary Vale Rd renovation is completed, restoring to their former glory the first shops built on the Bournville Estate in 1898. Designed by W. Alexander Harvey, these three-storey Grade 2 listed buildings provide a dramatic entrance to the Estate, when approached from Linden Road.
Using original slate and timber, the restoration also incorporates a newly-built extension behind the facade.
BVT wins an award for Mary Vale Road from the National Home Improvement Council, for sensitive renovation work, in preserving and enhancing historic buildings, whilst bringing them up to modern standards.
2003
BVT recruits its first ever Tenant Participation Officer, to strengthen the Trust’s commitment to involving all residents in decision making.
The Audit Commission awards the Trust the second highest possible rating, after a detailed inspection of our services. In particular, the Audit Commission praises our responsive repairs service, the way we tackle anti-social behaviour, how we work well with other agencies, and the involvement of residents in shaping our services.
Tom Greeves, a grandson of the Founder, George Cadbury, retires after 32 years of loyal service as a Trustee of BVT. Tom was Vice-Chairman of the Trust for 14 years, and showed quiet authority, combined with genuine passion for the work of the Trust.
2002
Peter Roach from Mercian Housing Association is appointed as Bournville Village Trust’s new Chief Executive.
Completion of the Lock Close Centre at Redditch - a respite centre for five young people with learning disabilities, built in partnership with Worcestershire County Council and Home Farm Trust.
2001
Joint Venture agreement signed by English Partnerships and BVT to work together to promote and develop an urban village in Telford’s Lightmoor district.
First turf cut in Shenley Green on 1 July, marking the beginning of Phase 1 of the Shenley redevelopment, which will provide over 50 new dwellings, a new medical centre and a renovated shopping area.
2000
The final phase of Bloomsbury redevelopment, including 14 shared-ownership houses, is completed. In Shropshire, work continues on the masterplan for an exciting new village of 800 homes at Lightmoor, Telford.
2000 Centenary Celebrations
Spectacular fireworks light up the sky today December 14th 2000 to mark the start of the Centenary Year of Bournville Village Trust. At the Foundation Day party, invited guests mingle with Trust staff to be entertained by a concert of children’s choirs and instrumental music, inside Rowheath Pavilion.
1999
The refurbishment of the splendidly-located St. George’s Court in Bournville, begins, providing 28 spacious one and two bedroom apartments.
1997
Major re-development work including the replacement and renovation of redundant tower blocks in the Bloomsbury area of Birmingham’s Nechells begins.
1996
To designs drawn up by its own architectural practice, Bournville Architects www.bournvillearchitects.co.uk, the Trust rebuilds the centre of Bordesley Village in Birmingham, including flats, shops, a dental surgery and a community hall.
1995
The Trust joins forces with other Midlands-based housing associations, the City of Birmingham, major developers, building firms and Heartlands Development Corporation in Birmingham Heartlands, one of the largest redevelopment areas in the West Midlands.
1994
The last major plot of un-developed land on the Estate - a 15-acre site including ‘The Davids’, former home of the founder’s son Laurence Cadbury - is sold.
1994: "THE DAVIDS" OFF BRISTOL ROAD, BOURNVILLE
1991
Following protracted negotiations with Telford Development Corporation, the Trust becomes owner and landlord of 350 properties in Telford, Shropshire; today it has over 500 properties in Shropshire, with more in the pipeline.
1989
The major development takes place at Meadow Rise where 14 bungalows for rent are built from the proceeds of the sale of 30 houses.
1983
The Trust buys 65 acres of Rowheath playing fields to create the largest solar village in northern Europe at the time.
1979
Flats to satisfy a growing need for accommodation for single people and young families are built, off Bristol Road and also, a year later, behind the Convent in St. Joseph’s Avenue.
1967
Following the Leasehold Reform Act, the Trust is granted High Court approval for a Scheme of Management on the Bournville Estate. This enables it to uphold standards of appearance and amenity, by requiring freeholders to obtain Trust approval for external alterations to property in Bournville.
1950
Work is started on the Trust’s biggest single project to date, Shenley Fields Neighbourhood Development, comprising 750 properties including shops, houses, flats, maisonettes and bungalows.
PART OF THE COMPLETED SHENLEY DEVELOPMENT, CIRCA 1965
1945
Even though work is strictly governed by regulations, the Trust re-starts building and the first post-war houses for rent are officially opened the following year, by the then Chairman of Trustees, Dame Elizabeth Cadbury.
DAME ELIZABETH CADBURY OPENS THE FIRST POST-WAR HOUSES IN 1946
1929
From plans supplied by the Trust, local builders, having leased land from the Trust, laid out plots and built much sought-after homes costing less than £1000.
1928
Nicknamed "Ten Shilling Houses" because the rent was a reasonable 10/- and "Sunshine Homes" because they featured large south-facing windows, the Trust’s first "solar houses" are completed.
‘SOLAR HOUSES’, NICKNAMED ‘10/-HOUSES’
1922
Housing Society Residential Flats Ltd. meets a real need of the time by providing St. George’s Court, an elegant home of 49 self-contained, serviced semi-furnished flats and bed-sitting rooms for single professional businesswomen.
1919
The 363-house co-partnership initiative Bournville Works Housing Society Ltd. - so called because its members were drawn from workers at the Cadbury Brothers’ factory - is established.
1914
The second such housing co-partnership, Weoley Hill Ltd., is formed to develop the north-west side of the Estate.
1906
The Trust’s co-partnership housing society, Bournville Tenants Ltd., is established, land leased from the Trust and shares issued.
1900
The Trust is founded, heralding our transformation from building estate to complete village community. All house plans have to be approved by the principal architect, Alexander Harvey.
1895
Mortgages of 2.5% are made available for would-be purchasers of our first homes, built in Mary Vale Road.
THE FIRST HOMES ON THE ESTATE
1879
Brothers George and Richard Cadbury move their manufacturing cocoa business from Birmingham City centre to Bournville.
