Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (bdht) has pledged its support to the National Housing Federation’s (NHF) #FixTheHousingCrisisCampaign, with construction works now underway to transform the former All Saints Garage site on Birmingham Road, into 19 much-needed affordable homes for the local area.

Bromsgrove’s social housing provider received the green light for the development, which will be known as Roman Court, in September 2019. This major milestone follows the closure of the former car dealership earlier this year in July 2019.

Once complete, the scheme will deliver 19 one-bedroom flats, a mix of rent and shared-ownership, each benefitting from private allocated car parking and cycle spaces. As part of the development bdht will also deliver improvements to vehicular and pedestrian access to the site, as well as additional landscaping.

To mark the start of construction bdht’s Chief Executive, Mark Robertson, attended the development alongside Councillor and Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing and Strategic Housing, Shirley Webb. They discussed the NHF #FixTheHousingCrisisCampaign and how developments such as Roman Court will make a valuable contribution towards solving the current housing crisis by providing new and affordable housing provision.

By supporting the campaign, they are calling for the government to work alongside them to fix the housing crisis for good by committing to five housing priorities: significantly step-up the build rate of new social and affordable housing, make sure everyone can feel safe in their home, invest in places to bring the country together, deliver a new deal for social housing with residents at the heart, and to develop a fair and effective support and welfare system.

Mark Robertson said: “We are extremely pleased to have put the spade in the ground and started work on this essential new housing development. We are facing a real housing crisis in Bromsgrove, where the shortage of affordable homes for younger people is putting a huge strain on services. Good quality and safe housing is the springboard for a happy and healthy life and this is our mission. We are pleased to be contributing to the NHF’s campaign to fix the housing crisis, but we need local and national support to ensure a healthy future pipeline of new housing schemes so we can begin to reduce Bromsgrove’s massive waiting list for genuinely affordable homes.”

Shirley Webb said: “We clearly recognise that we need to build more truly affordable homes for both rent and ownership in Bromsgrove in order to address the real local housing need. Whilst this development is small in scale, it will make a very big difference to those younger residents who need safe and secure homes, just like the rest of us.”

bdht is a registered provider of social housing, serving the district of Bromsgrove and surrounding areas. The not-for-profit organisation aims to improve the communities in which it is based, working closely with partners, such as the council, police and residents, to provide secure and comfortable accommodation, and safe and happy neighbourhoods. While also undertaking a wide range of activities under contract to others including homelessness, supporting people, extra care and general estate management.

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