Pictured above: Bob Patel and Sue Rowley looking out of the
windows of one of the converted homes
Victorian houses in Sandwell which were converted to flats in
the 1980s have been restored to their former glory to meet a need
for more family accommodation in the borough.
Jephson Homes Housing Association recognised a growing need for
larger housing in the area so identified three properties in
Smethwick which could be converted back into houses.
The project secured £143,000 grant funding from Urban
Living and work was recently completed in partnership with Sandwell
Council and contractor Interclass.
The project has seen a block of three flats in Wellington Road
turned back into a five-bedroom house which could accommodate up to
10 people. In addition, a property in Bearwood Road and another in
Waterloo Road have been converted into three bedroom houses.
Representatives from Sandwell Council, Sandwell Homes and local
councillors joined staff from Jephson to take a look at the houses
on Friday 20th May.
Karen Brown, Development Officer for Jephson's Midlands region,
said: "A huge amount of hard work between several partners has gone
into the success of this project, which meets a real need for more
family accommodation across the area.
"We have worked closely with Sandwell MBC to jointly address
overcrowding in the borough and are delighted to be able to provide
families with these new homes."
The renovation work carried out by Interclass included
completely stripping out the internal layouts the buildings,
knocking down walls and re-siting staircases, whilst maintaining
much of the external architectural features of the properties to
respect the character of the area.
Tim Bennett, Acting Principal Partnerships Officer for Sandwell
Council, said: "We are delighted these three properties have
returned to their former glory. It is a huge achievement to
renovate these properties back to family homes whilst retaining the
architectural quality that respects the character of the Smethwick
area. All involved in the project have done an excellent job".
Through Sandwell Council's Local Training Scheme, trainees were
recruited to work on the project assisting with plastering and
carpentry to help them to gain valuable experience while completing
their construction qualifications and one has gained full-time
employment with the contractor as a result.
The new houses all feature solar water heating, water recycling
and insulation levels above the minimum required. They are being
offered for rent through Sandwell Homes.