Residents hail Pype Hayes transformation

A major project to transform one of Birmingham's largest housing estates has been given a huge thumbs-up by residents.

Birmingham City Council has built 1,514 new homes on the Pype Hayes Estate, working in partnership with developers, affordable housing partner Waterloo Housing Association and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

And Jo Cooley, resident and Project Board Member, says the completed project has provided: “Wonderful, warm and comfortable houses, that look great and that we can be proud of.”

Working with Keepmoat Homes, Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust has now completed the final 27 homes - 15 have been sold and the remaining 12 affordable homes are available for rent through the Trust. Keepmoat have also employed three apprentices and trainees at the site studying NVQ level 2 qualifications in bricklaying and administration.

The development, completed in stages over 23 years, has been part funded by the (HCA) using its Public Land Initiative that was designed to stimulate house building during the recession.

The original Pype Hayes estate was developed after the First World War as a solution to the sudden need for low cost homes. Over 1,300 concrete and steel properties were built cheaply and quickly, but structural problems known as 'concrete cancer' meant that in 1989 Birmingham City Council had to take the decision to demolish these defective properties.

Overall, this award winning, council led regeneration has transformed the Pype Hayes estate:

  • Funding the creation of Sorrell Park
  • Contributing £250,000 towards enhancements to Pype Hayes Park
  • Improved the highways with the creation of a linear walkway pedestrian crossing over both Tyburn Road and Chester Road

In addition to the new homes, Birmingham City Council has significantly improved the retained council properties on Pype Hayes, refurbishing over 150 homes and contributing over £7 million from the disposal of land on the estate, towards much needed improvements to council properties across Birmingham.

Now the transformation has been completed and Cllr Tahir Ali, Birmingham City Council's Cabinet Member for Development, Jobs & Skills, said “I'm so pleased that this project has been completed and that high quality homes have been provided for the residents of Birmingham.

“The Council's partnerships with Housing developers and the funding help from the Homes and Communities Agency, has made a fantastic impact in regenerating the Pype Hayes area of the city. The quality of the new homes built here will make Pype Hayes a great place to live long into the future”

Jo Cooley, Resident and Project Board Member said: “The transformation of the estate has taken a long time and a lot of hard work by everyone involved but it's made a fantastic difference to our lives. The old concrete houses were so cold, especially in winter, and now we all have wonderful, warm and comfortable houses, that look great and that we can be proud of.”

Paul Degg Managing Director (New Build) for Keepmoat Midlands, said: “We're really pleased to be working with Birmingham City Council, providing new private and affordable homes to meet the needs of the Pype Hayes community.”

We have been able to create employment and training opportunities for young people in the area and the whole team has had a great sense of pride working on this project.

Baggi Matu, Area Manager at the HCA Midlands said: “We are really pleased that our investment has enabled the City Council to deliver and complete this scheme at Pype Hayes. The homes have proven very popular within the local area, demonstrating how important this project has been in meeting affordable housing demand within this part of the city.”

Ends.

For more information contact Geoff Coleman on 0121 303 3501

Notes to editors

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Our vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas.

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