A £25 million housing development at the heart of Birmingham's Cadbury community started on site yesterday.

Unprecedented demand for social housing in the Midlands has prompted Bournville village Trust to seek funding from the housing Corporation for the development of 167 new social renting and owner occupied homes on the Lower Shenley estate in South Birmingham.

All homes will be constructed to the newly introduced Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 environmental standard and recycled bricks will be crushed and used for hardcore. Other innovative and sustainable techniques will include the pioneering 'Home Zone' street design where people and cars share the same carriageway and pavements. Home Zone was first introduced to the Netherlands to champion safer communities by encouraging cars in residential areas to travel at less than 10mph; only a fraction faster than typical walking pace.


Bournville Village trust's multi-million regeneration project will be project managed by Turner & Townsend and built by the contractor, Kier Partnership Homes. Bigwood Chartered Surveyors will handle the sale of 34 private homes on Parklands, off Shenley Lane which will range from two-bedroom flats to five-bedroom family houses.

Roger Cadbury, Chairman of the Trust will be cutting the first sod to mark the commencement of the 18-month contract with the first properties offered up for sale in January 2009.

Phase One of the major redevelopment is already complete and includes 56 new bungalows, flats and homes as well as unprecedented levels of landscaping, some public artwork and unique security lighting.

Hitesh Champaneri at Bournville Village Trust said: "The proposals are a comprehensive approach to redevelopment and include safety features and high quality design that relate well to its context."

(JM)