Work under way on £3m council homes

The £3.25 million development sees Kier Living building 29 houses at Kent Close for Sandwell Council.

The development, on the site of the former Kent Primary School which closed in 2005, features 13 two-bedroom, ten three-bedroom and six four-bedroom homes.

Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell's cabinet member for regeneration and economic investment, was showing West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson and Councillor Pat Davies how well the build is progressing.

Councillor Moore said: "I am extremely impressed with the progress that's been made on the site since work started in September.

"The first phase of seven properties is set to be completed by the end of March next year and they will be let by the council to local families."

He added that the development is also providing four apprenticeship opportunities for local young people in bricklaying, and painting and decorating.

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 the Sandwell district.

"Kier is proud of the existing work we have done in the area, providing high specification homes to add to the council's affordable housing stock as well as provide homes for open market sale."

The homes are the first council houses to be built in Sandwell since 2012 and will be rented and managed by the council.

The whole development is set to be completed by August 2016.

Work has already started on several building projects including specially adapted properties for old and vulnerable council tenants across the borough.

In June it was also announced that more than £50 million will be spent revamping 6,000 existing council homes in Sandwell by 2017.

The cash will be used to refurbish kitchens and bathrooms, install central heating systems as well as replacing roofs and windows, at homes in West Bromwich, Tipton, Oldbury and Rowley Regis.