Pictured: (Back l-r) Carl Larter, Midland Heart; Robert
Napier CBE, HCA; Richard Cornes, William Davis with (front l-r)
Cllr. John Lines, Birmingham City Council; Lord Bill Morris,
Midland Heart; Elaine Elkington, Birmingham City Council and Tom
Murtha, chief executive officer, Midland Heart at the official
opening for Crocodile Works.
Loughborough-based contractor and developer, William Davis Ltd
has officially handed over the £25m* Crocodile Works
development to housing and care organisation, Midland Heart.
Representatives from project partners William Davis, Midland
Heart and Birmingham City Council gathered on site for a VIP
opening with Robert Napier CBE, chair of the Homes and Communities
Agency (HCA) and Lord Bill Morris, chair, Midland Heart as well as
residents, local community groups and school children.
The Crocodile Works site in Newtown, Birmingham, has been
transformed into 126 apartments and 42 townhouses, available for
rent, outright sale and Rent to HomeBuy. The scheme has been
jointly funded by the HCA, former pathfinder for Sandwell and
Dudley, Urban Living and Midland Heart and forms the first phase of
a Pathfinder Housing Market Renewal programme to spearhead further
redevelopment in the area.
Richard Cornes, partnerships director, William Davis said:
"Regeneration of areas such as Newtown is vital so it is pleasing
to witness the transformation of such a large scale and complex
development into a vibrant living environment. There is certainly a
strong sense of community cohesion surrounding Crocodile Works and
we are confident it will serve as a catalyst for future
regeneration."
During construction, project partners worked extensively with
the local community by offering 23 construction work placements to
local tradespeople as well as launching a Health & Safety
initiative, educating pupils from Chilwell Croft Primary
School.
Lord Bill Morris, chair, Midland Heart said: "Crocodile Works
brings together the history, the present and future in a way that
meets the needs of the local community. Developing and
sustaining communities is essential to the regeneration of this
area and we are delighted that our partners and local people, who
have played such an integral role, are here to celebrate with us
today."
Robert Napier CBE, chairman of the HCA, which has invested
£11.8m into Crocodile Works, added: "This is a fantastic
scheme, combining high quality housing for local families with
employment opportunities generated through its construction.
"The HCA is committed to the wider regeneration of Newtown and
Crocodile Works is the first of several schemes we are funding
locally to improve the lives of communities in this part of
Birmingham."
During the opening event, visitors were invited on a tour of the
scheme and enjoyed entertainment including a display from the local
Bhangra dance group.
Councillor John Lines, cabinet member for housing at Birmingham
City Council concluded: "I am delighted and amazed by the quality
of the scheme which follows years of partnership working with
Midland Heart, the HCA and what was Urban Living. We have worked
closely together throughout the development, in particular
re-housing tenants and owners affected by the redevelopment into
new homes in Crocodile Works.
"This project is another key element of the development of
Newtown and complements the wider regeneration taking place in this
part of the city."