Birmingham City Council to build new homes for former soldiers

Birmingham City Council claims to be the first local authority in the country to build homes exclusively for ex-service personnel.

The council has announced that work is set to start on 12 new homes, in partnership with the Alderson Trust, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and developer Galliford Try.

The homes are part of 706 homes that are currently in various stages of development through the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT), the housing building arm of the council.

The 12 new homes will be built in Bartley Green, South Birmingham, on a 0.72 acre site, which is a short distance from Queen Elizabeth Hospital and right on the edge of the green belt.

Due for completion in 2012, the homes are a mix of houses, bungalows and apartments.

Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for housing, Councillor John Lines said the homes are the first of many planned by the partnership in response to the need of homeless ex-service personnel.

“We are building homes for our heroes and their families because we believe there should a priority for housing our brave ex-service personnel.

“The homes are part of over 700 we are delivering across Birmingham through the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust.

“In light of the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, we want to support those brave men and women who have served in the military to protect our country and this is one small step we are taking to help tackle the demand for homes, which unfortunately, currently exceeds availability.”

Sergeant Roger Waters, 37, has served 8 years in the Army and currently serves in the Territorial Army. He has served in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan during his career. He welcomed news of the new homes:

“It’s great to see that something is being done to show that people actually care for those who have served in the forces. The fact that these homes will be available for people like me who are returning from duty is touching. All the lads will appreciate that the council and its partners have gone out of their way to do something positive and show that they appreciate us and support us.”

Alan Bishop, investment and regeneration manager, HCA Midlands, said: “This is an excellent scheme supporting ex-service personnel in Birmingham and is part of a wider development of sites across the city that are receiving a share of £4.7million from the HCA’s Public Land Initiative.

“We are working with the council to deliver 234 new homes through the PLI in Birmingham and this scheme at Bartley Green will deliver 79 of these”.