Developers on board for new homes in Sandwell

Sandwell Council has awarded contracts to Kier Partnership Homes, Barratt Homes and Compendium Living to build properties in West Bromwich, Smethwick and Wednesbury respectively.

The three schemes will see a total of 768 brand new homes built by 2015 thanks to investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). They will feature new family homes as well as bungalows for older people and will be a mixture of properties for private sale and for social rent.

Leading house builder Kier Partnership Homes will build homes in Greets Green, while Barratt Homes will be building new properties Windmill Lane area of Smethwick. Meanwhile, Compendium Living has been handed the contract to build properties in the Harvills Hawthorn area of Wednesbury.

Businesses and jobseekers are also set to benefit from the schemes which are expected to generate more than £70 million worth of construction work for the region's supply chain and will create more than 100 jobs with local employers.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for housing, said: "We're pleased to announce partners who will help turn our vision for the future of housing in Sandwell into reality.

"We'll be providing residents with an excellent range of affordable homes for local people to buy, part-own and rent and consult with local people about the new homes we plan to build. This includes the building of two-bedroom bungalows to rent for older tenants to downsize from council houses which will free these houses up for families"

Cllr Hackett added: "The housing programme will also create new jobs opportunities and bring further investment to the borough. We look forward to working with our new partners and seeing new homes continue to appear across Sandwell."

Assad Hamed, area manager for the HCA, Midlands said: "We know through working closely with Sandwell Council that increasing the supply of affordable homes in the borough is a big priority and we are pleased our investment is supporting this. Getting all three schemes up and running will be a major boost for local communities in Sandwell as they will see lots of activity happening across the borough and will benefit from the impact of local jobs and economic growth."

The developers have signed construction pledges to work with local suppliers and will team up with the council's Think Local and 'Find It In Sandwell' initiatives. All apprentices placed by Think Local on the schemes will be able to work towards an NVQ qualification, meanwhile developers have pledged to build close links with local suppliers by via the council's 'Find it in Sandwell' business network.

Later this year, Sandwell Council will announce which developers have been awarded the contract to build new homes in the Tibbington area of Tipton and Durham area of Great Barr.