Social housing plan agreed for athletes' village

More than 200 homes in a complex built for the Commonwealth Games will be used for social housing.

The flats, originally started as part of plans for an Athletes' Village in Birmingham for the 2022 games, have been sitting empty since completion in April 2023.

The development was delayed due to coronavirus with athletes instead being housed in student accommodation.

The 213 homes in Perry Barr are set to become available for council housing use, which Birmingham City Council said would provide a “welcome boost to the supply of high-quality council homes”.

A report said 23,000 people were waiting for social housing in the city and a portion of the 213 people who would be given the new homes will currently be in council funded temporary accommodation.

Council leader John Cotton was optimistic about Perry Barr’s future despite recent uncertainty over the residential scheme.

He said: “It’s been utterly transformed as a result of the legacy from the Games, whether we’re looking at the railway station, Alexander Stadium, the new secondary school and sixth form.

“So I think there’s a bright future for Perry Barr as a result of that Games legacy.”

Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, added: “The decision to keep one of these plots to be used as council homes has been made after a detailed analysis of all possible options.

“It will boost the supply of homes for people in the city who are most in need, at a time when the number of people on the housing register has never been higher.”

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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