Work starts on Birmingham development which will deliver 1,000th affordable home

The Matrix Housing Partnership is a consortium of social landlords. It’s led by Green Square Accord (GSA) and is also made up of Black Country Housing Group, Citizen, The Pioneer Group, Rooftop Housing Association and Trident Housing Association.

In October 2021, the Matrix Housing Partnership also secured £185m from the UK Government’s Affordable Homes Programme to support a further 2,167 affordable homes which will start before April 2026.

At our Coventry Road development in Sheldon, a mix of one and two-bed flats will be built. The site was previously home to the Ivy Leaf social club which was run by the Royal British Legion.

A hidden war memorial, which was on the former car park, will also be moved to a more prominent place when the development is finished.

Our Director of Sales and Programme Delivery, Michael Park, said: “It’s brilliant to see work starting at our Coventry Road development in Sheldon and that it will reach this important milestone for the Matrix Partnership.

“It’s important to work with our partners to make a positive difference to our customers and bringing a brownfield site back into use by building affordable homes will help those who need a home in the area.

“We’re also pleased to honour the history of the site by moving the war memorial into a better place so it can be seen by more people.

Once the homes are complete, they will be offered at social rent – which is set at 50 percent of the market rate.

Asfana Begum, Programme Officer at GSA said: “For two decades, The Matrix Housing Partnership has been working closely together to deliver the affordable homes our region needs.

“By using a consortium model, we have been able to secure funding for new developments, share best practice and pool our resources.

“Congratulations to our colleagues at Citizen who have surpassed the milestone of 1000 home starts since the Matrix partners were awarded funding from the UK Government’s Affordable Homes Programme in October 2021.”

We’re also working in partnership with DC Construction to build the homes at the development.

Mark Marshall, Project Manager from DC Construction said: "We are extremely pleased to be involved in this important scheme. As a Birmingham based contractor, projects like this resonate with us because they combine community impact with long-term social value.

“Delivering 51 affordable homes in such a central location is professionally rewarding, but what also makes this project significant is its heritage. The scheme will incorporate an historic memorial dedicated to those who gave their lives for their country. For DC Construction, ensuring that this element is delivered with sensitivity and respect is of paramount importance.

“So, this project is not solely about building to our team at DC Construction, it is about creating a development that serves today’s housing needs, is environmentally sensitive and preserves a space for remembrance."

Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, added: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions.

“It’s great to see work start at the former Ivy Club site in Birmingham and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact we can make with Matrix Housing. This is a prime example of how we work collaboratively with partners, to achieve our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”