More than 1,100 new homes are to be built in Birmingham.

Construction work has started on the first 77 houses at Icknield Port Loop, one the UK's most significant brownfield regeneration schemes.

The area is being transformed via a joint venture (JV) partnership between Places for People and Urban Splash. Plans include developing around 1,150 new homes, as well as commercial property and community, across the 43-acre site.

Planning permission is in place for the whole of the first phase with a mix of 207 family homes and apartments, together with a new park. 40 of the first properties in the first phase will be created offsite by Urban Splash's modular brand House. The remaining 37 homes have been designed by Glenn Howells Architects and will launch for sale next year.

Work is also underway on plans for wider community facilities such as canal-side cafes, waterborne sports hubs, community spaces and commercial opportunities, while personal and shared spaces will be provided for residents.

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Adam Willetts, Project Director for the Urban Splash and Places for People JV, said: "This transformative project is a catalyst for even wider regeneration of the Icknield Port Loop area for family city living, all just 15 minutes' walk from Birmingham city centre. With creative and innovative design built in, our aim is to bring huge benefits to the existing community as well as those attracted to the new development with vibrant new uses for the canals and canal-side spaces and providing a range of modern homes.

"The extensive and multifaceted remediation of the site has been underway since the start of the year, including the complex rebuilding of the canal walls, clearing and recycling around 60,000 cubic metres of soil and materials and re-engineering the site levels to get it ready for bringing this new neighbourhood to life."

James Lazarus, Head of Joint Ventures at the Canal & River Trust, said: "We know that spending time by the water can help people feel happier and more relaxed so this regeneration can bring real health and wellbeing benefits to this part of Birmingham. As well as providing attractive canal-side housing it will also revitalise the whole area giving people the opportunity to build some time by the water into their daily lives.

"The regeneration will encourage more people to use the city's canals and tow-paths to commute to and from work, travel to the city centre and participate in sports and recreation on the water so the wider benefits of the scheme are really exciting."

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Ian Ward, said: "This is, without doubt, one of the most exciting residential developments in the city for a very long time. The variety of housing types, layouts and sizes will lead to the creation of a genuinely mixed, multi-generational community attracted to a unique waterside location with sustainable access to the very core of the city."

Image credit: Glenn Howells Architects.

(LM)