Dozens of council houses for Sandwell in £12.5m scheme
Dozens of new council homes will be built in Sandwell as part of a £12.5 million scheme to meet the growing demand for properties across the borough.
Sandwell Council is looking at developing sites around the borough during the next four years.
Land earmarked for development includes the former Bolton Court site in Ocker Hill and Tibbington Terrace, both in Tipton; Doulton Road, Rowley Regis and Kent Close in West Bromwich. A total of 145 homes will be built.
They will include 36 new council homes - seven at Tibbington Terrace and 29 at Kent Close - with a further 109 homes for private sale across the Boulton Court, Tibbington Terrace and Doulton Road sites.
Kier will develop the sites and build the council homes under licence for the council which will be added to Sandwell's council housing stock.
Funding to build the council homes has come from the council's housing revenue account and receipts from council properties which have been sold under Right to Buy.
The new council homes for rent will be built first with work expected to start in the New Year and scheduled for completion in 2016, with the private properties scheduled to be on the market from 2016-2018.
The deal will also create a number of construction training places and construction jobs for local people.
Councillor Ian Jones, cabinet member for jobs and economy, said: "The demand for housing continues to grow in Sandwell.
"Working with Kier Partnership Homes, as out development partner on these sites means that we are able to replace some of the homes that we have lost from our own stock through Right to Buy.
"There will also be a number of homes for private sale as well."
Chris King, managing director for Kier Partnership Homes, said: "We are excited and committed to continuing our partnerships with Sandwell Council supporting their ambitions to further revitalise communities in Tipton, Rowley Regis and West Bromwich.
"Kier is proud of the existing work we have done in the area, providing high specification homes in Greets Green to add to the council's affordable housing stock as well as provide homes for open market sale."
In June it was announced that more than £50 million will be spent revamping 6,000 council homes in Sandwell over the next three years. The cash will be used to refurbish kitchens and bathrooms, install central heating systems as well as replacing roofs and windows.
They include homes in West Bromwich, Tipton, Oldbury and Rowley Regis
The work is being carried out with three building firms – Lovell Partnerships Limited, VINCI Facilities and Wates Living Space. T
