Balaam Wood was developed in partnership with Birmingham City Council's (BCC) Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The development was entered for the Regeneration and Renewal Awards by BCC, which received the prestigious award for the council homebuilding programme, beating four companies in the category of 'Best use of Housing in Regeneration' and also picking up the special 'Grand Prix' award.
In order to win, the programme was closely scrutinised by the Regeneration and Renewal panel. The examination looked at the scheme’s innovative financial method used to deliver mixed tenure sites, the rationale behind the choice for certain areas and visiting various sites under development or design.
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Cllr John Lines, Birmingham City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, who opened the development in July, said: "It means a lot to me and my colleagues who have helped to set up the largest council house building programme of its kind in over 30 years. Our scheme brings new modern properties to families, transforming the lives of local people and creating not only houses but homes."
On learning of Balaam Wood’s success, KPH managing director Chris King, added: "It is pleasing to learn that these excellent homes have been recognised by such a prestigious awarding body. We are very proud of the size and quality of these new homes; they are incredible value for money."
Balaam Wood, which has been partly financed by a grant from the HCA, is part of a wider Birmingham regeneration scheme to create homes and communities where people enjoy living, working, playing and visiting. The new houses showcase exceptional design, space standards and energy efficiency, as well as high-security measures which meet stringent Secure by Design criteria.
It is a positive first step in developing a partnership between KPH, BCC and the HCA, which aims to build a sustainable community through meeting Birmingham’s long-term housing development targets. Each development also creates training and employment opportunities through jobs and apprenticeships, to help tackle unemployment within the city, particularly among younger people.
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