Construction starts on affordable housing scheme

The foundations have been put in place for a new multi-million housing development in Cradley Heath.

Keon Homes, working in partnership with housing association Bromford, is regenerating the brownfield site on Woods Lane to provide 34 homes. The land was once rumoured to be the home of the ironworks that manufactured the anchor used by the Titanic.

All of the one, two and three-bedroom houses being constructed at the development over the next 12-months will be available to rent with Bromford, with construction work due to be finished by April 2024.

Formally owned by Holtite, the first stage of the project involved safely demolishing the old industrial buildings and completing remediation, with the foundations now in place and building work starting in earnest.

Ben Sharp, technical co-ordinator at Keon Homes said: “There is a real need in the area to build homes that are affordable, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Bromford on Woods Lane.

“Working together, we purchased a piece of land and are turning a disused industrial site into a community where individuals, couples and families can live”,

Alice Phillips, Bromford’s regional development manager, added: “With local house prices seven times the average local wage, we know there is a lot of demand for homes people can afford and we can’t wait to welcome customers into their new homes later this year”.

The homes being built at Woods Lane form part of Bromford’s ambitious development plans over the next decade, which will see one of the country’s biggest builders of affordable housing aim to complete 11,000 new homes by 2030.

Part of The Tara Group, Keon Homes has previously worked with Bromford on developments in Telford, building 76 new houses across its Newcomen Way and Woodside Way schemes.