Pictured above: Upward Developments managing director Nick Drury (right) and director Simon Griffiths launch the housing scheme at Field Road in Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands

Upward Developments has announced the completion of the first phase of a new housing scheme which gives struggling West Midlands home-hunters the chance to get a foot on the property ladder with a range of affordable properties.

Phase one of the development in Field Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, consists of five terraced houses - two 2-bed homes and three 3-bed homes, with 27 more properties due to be constructed in future phases.

Upward Developments (West Midlands) director Simon Griffiths said one property had already been sold and there is considerable interest from local home-hunters in the remaining four.

"This development marks a major transformation of the area, bringing derelict brownfield land back into viable use, greatly improving the surroundings for local people and creating jobs in construction. Our ethos is to produce quality homes to a high standard, offering value for money in these difficult economic times. We're a local company and we're very proud of this development," said Simon.

"These are excellent homes, starting at an affordable £129,000 for a 3-bed home and just £109,000 for a 2-bed home which is outstanding value for money for the area when compared to other similar developments in Walsall.

"We're doing all we can to help hard-pressed buyers during these tough times. Many would-be purchasers could be struggling to get deposits together but we hope that these prices will make it affordable for people to own a brand new home. We're providing kitchens fully fitted with integrated appliances, and floor and wall tiles, as well as buyer incentives and offers every week. The latest offer is a 5% gifted deposit on a 3-bed home. Other offers include a free conservatory," he added.

Phase 2 of the Field Road development will include 18 homes with three and four bedrooms, while phase 3 will see a further nine homes built on the site. The scheme has a gross development value of approximately £4.5 million.

Upward Developments, a property development and investment company based in Bloxwich near Walsall, was established just over a year ago. It has many projects underway and is busy working on a variety of planning applications for schemes across the West Midlands at locations including Solihull, Lye, Walsall and Wolverhampton. 

Managing director Nick Drury announced that the company has applied for planning permission for a further 50 homes at Reeves Street in Bloxwich, and a 25-bed care home complex on the former Chamberlin Hill site that was acquired in 2008. The projects demonstrate the company's determination to defy the economic conditions by continuing to deliver schemes that help to regenerate areas and create jobs.

Nick added: "There are early signs of a recovery in the property industry, in particular on smaller scale projects, and Upward Developments is pressing ahead ambitiously with a variety of exciting schemes within the West Midlands. We hope to commence construction activities on these applications later in the year, bringing a boost to local construction labour as well as providing the potential for new local jobs in the proposed new commercial units."