First modular properties craned into place on new city centre development

Residents could soon be living in state of the art affordable homes after the first modular properties were been craned into place on a new city centre development.

Homes England has agreed a £7.45m loan from the government’s Home Building Fund for the development of 77 homes by Urban Splash and Places for People.

The loan will support the development of the first of 1,150 homes at Port Loop on the edge of Birmingham city centre.

The first phase of the Icknield Port Loop scheme, a half mile canal loop within walking distance of the City Centre, will provide a mix of modular, factory built and traditionally constructed homes on the large brownfield site.

Phase 1 of the development, which is also backed by Birmingham City Council and the Canal and Rivers Trust, will include a new park, improved canal towpath and 77 homes built around shared gardens. In addition to the 37 traditionally built properties, there will be 40 modular homes which can be customised.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: “This Government is committed to making the dream of home ownership a reality for a new generation as we power through to delivering 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

“Birmingham’s Port Loop is a great example of how our £4.5bn Home Building Fund is helping to meet the triple challenge of delivering more, better, faster home construction, as well as revving a strong and prosperous Midlands Engine.”

Ian Martin, head of investment in the Midlands for Homes England said: “The sheer scale of the scheme provides the opportunity to build a whole new community and will be one of the largest regeneration schemes in the Midlands. This will provide a much needed boost to the region’s housing stock, which is exactly what the Home Building Fund was established to do.”

Adam Willetts, speaking on behalf of the partnership, added: “Port Loop is one of the most exciting regeneration developments in the country and we are delighted to be delivering the first of many homes there. We are also on site creating new public realm space in the form of a one-acre park, as well as progressing our plans for the broader area. We are delighted to receive the support of Homes England for our plans.”