Work on Commonwealth Games Village gets underway

Work on the residential element of the Commonwealth Games Village in Birmingham is now underway.

The site in Perry Barr will house around 6,500 athletes and officials coming to the city in the summer of 2022.

The construction work on the site of the former Birmingham City University campus is due for completion in early 2022.

After the Games, the development will be converted into more than 1,400 homes, the first phase of a long-term regeneration plan for Perry Barr and surrounding areas that will provide 5,000 homes.

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Perry Barr will provide a magnificent base for athletes in the summer of 2022 – and then go on to provide a genuine long-term Commonwealth Games legacy, by helping house the people of Birmingham in high-quality homes.”

Planning permission was unanimously granted for the £520m scheme by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee back in December 2018.

Financial support towards the overall cost has been secured for the council-led scheme from central government (£165m) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (£20m).

Paul Blanchard, Commonwealth Games England chief executive, said: “It’s fantastic to see the construction work starting at the athlete’s village, which will provide a home from home for 6,500 athletes and officials during the Commonwealth Games.

“When Team England compete in Birmingham in three years’ time, we know our athletes will have a great experience staying in the Athlete’s Village and will be given the support and opportunity to perform at their best in front of a home crowd. It’s very exciting to see the work that has been done so far on the village and the plans for the future with the legacy that the Commonwealth Games will bring.”

John Crabtree, chair of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said: “The start of construction of the Athletes’ Village is a major milestone for us all and it’s going to be exciting to see this site develop over the next few years.

“We look forward to watching every step of the construction of what will be a crucial facility for the success of the Games. The village will be home to the 6,500 athletes and officials from the 71 nations and territories that we will welcome to Birmingham in July 2022, so we’ll be working very closely with the other Games partners to ensure that a world-class facility is created.”