Pictured: The Mansell team involved in the William Lench Court project. They are (l-r)site manager Wayne Gwilt, project manager Gavin Ward, trainee site manager Stephen Lediard, construction manager Christian Bohlin, finishing foreman Chris Sadler and Mark Boden.

A special stone-unveiling ceremony was held to mark the completion of an £8.3 million contract to build sheltered housing for a Birmingham charity which can trace its roots back to 1525.

The contract - carried out by the Stourbridge-based Western region of Mansell - was for the construction of 63 affordable homes for the elderly for rent or shared ownership in Ridgacre Road, Quinton, Birmingham. The development has been named William Lench Court.

The project was commissioned by Lench's Trust, a charity dedicated to providing care and housing for older people in Birmingham. Eventually the new retirement village will provide 97 apartments accommodating some 120 residents. Although the residents will live independently, they will have access to 24-hour care facilities as and when needed, plus comprehensive communal facilities.

The commemorative stone was unveiled by trustee James Lloyd MBE at a special ceremony watched by local dignitaries and representatives from the Homes and Communities Agency, Birmingham City Council, Lench's Trust, Waterloo Housing and Mansell.

Lench's Trust was established in the early 16th Century when Birmingham tanner William Lench left his wealth to 19 friends and asked for it to be given to charity to help the poor and needy in Birmingham. Since then the Trust has established almshouses and sheltered housing on four sites across the city.