The first homes to roll off the production line at the Accord
Group's new timber home manufacturing hub are being erected in
Walsall as part of a £10 million housing development.
More than 100 new homes, including 90 low carbon timber houses,
are being constructed in Darlaston by the Accord Group as part of a
major affordable housing development.
The Whitworth Close development is partly funded by the
Government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which has awarded
the scheme a £2 million grant.
The energy efficient homes, which will cost less to run than
more traditional houses, are being manufactured under the name
LoCaL Homes at Accord's timber home factory in Beechdale.
Panels for the first eight new timber homes at Whitworth Close
were delivered to the site last Friday (6 January). The panels are
placed into position using cranes and assembled into three bedroom
homes, with the first properties set to be completed by late
spring.
Homes will be available for people to rent affordably or to buy
through shared ownership, where households can buy a percentage of
the property and rent the remainder.
Alan Yates, Group Director of Regeneration for the Accord Group,
said: "It's fantastic to welcome in the New Year by seeing the
first homes produced at the factory being erected on site.
"Many of those who work at the hub live in or around the borough
so these homes will truly be made by local people, for local people
which is something that we are particularly proud of.
"And with around 350,000 people across the West Midlands on
waiting lists for social housing, we hope that this development
will go some way to create the much needed affordable homes that
the region needs."
Councillor Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council Deputy Leader and
cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This is excellent news that
I'm very proud to be associated with. We've played a role in making
this happen and it's good to see new homes taking shape to offer
families quality places to live in Walsall.
"One of the key aims of local government is to help create jobs
and investment. I'm pleased to see this aim take shape."
The Accord Group, which is made up of seven different housing
organisations, is the first housing association in the country to
open its own factory to manufacture timber frame homes.
Opened just two months ago, the factory will produce around 200
environmentally friendly homes each year and has already created a
number of vital jobs for local people.