Loft conversion first for Sandwell

Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for housing, said he had been "delighted" to see the successful work on the first home at Wolseley Road at Harvills Hawthorn.

"I asked for this pilot scheme this year because I firmly believe that a loft conversion can allow over-crowded families to stay in their homes," he said.

"We are doing six or seven of these this year and I will have small, ongoing programme of improvements year on year because I firmly believe that they will bring benefits to tenants and the council," he said.

Overcrowding and the number of under-occupied houses in Sandwell was a big problem and the conversion of lofts on some specially-selected houses would help to alleviate some of the problems, he added.

"I was delighted to see the first conversion and the family involved were very, very pleased with the new facilities they have now," he said.

"This scheme will allow us to help those people we are unable to assist at the moment because of the lack of housing stock," he added.

Housing provider Riverside, which manages the property at Wolseley Road, Harvills Hawthorn estate, for Sandwell Council, unveiled the two bedroom loft conversion.

Local company Buckley Loft Conversions was commissioned by Riverside to complete the work on the semi-detached property which took nine weeks to finish.

Councillor Hackett and Wednesbury South ward councillors joined Riverside and Buckley Loft Conversion staff to unveil the brand new bedrooms.

Paul Jones, Riverside Midlands assistant director of operations, said: "We are pleased with the results of the conversion and are continuing to work closely with the council to look at increasing the capacity of other properties in the coming months." 

Paul added: "Being able to provide the additional two bedrooms will bring much-needed space for the tenant and her five children, without having the disruption of moving them to another property."

The two organisations are working together on the Hawthorn Fields Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project at the Harvills Hawthorn and Millfields estates in Sandwell.

Riverside manages over 1,072 homes on two estates (Harvills Hawthorn and Millfields) belonging to Sandwell Council under the government's Private Finance Initiative. This project is known as Hawthorn Fields.

Riverside is responsible for managing homes and providing housing services to these two estates until 2031. Overall more than £200m will be spent on this project between 2006 and 2031.

The Riverside Hawthorn Fields team are based at the Hawthorn Fields Neighbourhood Office on the Harvills Hawthorn Estate.