£35m affordable housing scheme resurrected by Midlands developer

Keon Homes is set to deliver a £35m affordable housing scheme after two previous developers collapsed into administration.

The Midlands construction firm will build 124 units at the Icknield Port Loop Development in partnership with sister company Cameron Homes and housing association Midland Heart.

This joint venture between Cameron Homes and Midland Heart was created to buy the site out of administration from Ilke Homes and involves the regeneration of redundant unused brownfield land.

Two, three and four-bedroom homes are set to be delivered, alongside a small apartment block that straddles the canal corner. All homes will be zero carbon ready, incorporating electric heating, hot water heat pumps and generating localised electricity through solar panels.

Phase three will involve timber frame construction with a fabric-first approach and community neighbourhood gardens that will be at the heart of the scheme.

Keon Homes is expecting the scheme to take just under two years to complete, with the first properties set to be handed over in Spring 2025.

Warren Bolton, director of Keon Homes said: “As a Brummie born and bred, I’m delighted that we have found a solution that will eventually bring this next phase of the project to life.

“It has been nine months in the making, but thanks to our strong partnership with Midland Heart and our ability to bring our sister business Cameron Homes into the mix, we were able to meet all the expectations and are now looking to build this flagship scheme out.

“There is a desperate need for more affordable homes in the city and Icknield Port Loop was starting to meet some of these requirements. This is not just about ‘bricks and mortar’, this is about creating a thriving community that is just 15 minutes’ walk from everything Birmingham has to offer and will boast fantastic open spaces.”

Icknield Port Loop is the latest in a long line of successes for Keon Homes, which is on course to hit £50m for the first time in its short history this year.

Work will start shortly, with more than 50 people in the supply chain working to build 21 units for shared ownership sales and the remainder for social rent, ideal for local people, young couples and families.

Keon Homes will also be looking to work alongside the Noel Sweeney Foundation and other charities to ensure employment opportunities and a lasting positive legacy are left during the two years it is on site.

Joe Reeves, executive director of finance & growth at Midland Heart said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Keon Homes and working with them at Icknield Port Loop, an iconic housing development for the city, to deliver over 100 homes for social rent and the remainder for shared ownership.

“This development of high quality, energy efficient homes is an important part of our ambitious housing delivery strategy, our commitment to addressing the housing shortage in Birmingham and creating communities where local people can live and thrive.”