Sandwell Council is pressing ahead with its plans to build hundreds of much-needed new council homes. 

Families have already moved into 50 new properties at Carisbrooke Road, Friar Park in Wednesbury. 

Work has also started on another 63 new homes at Strathmore Road in Tipton. 

Seddon is the council’s partner for both schemes. 

The council has committed to investing around £70 million from 2018/19 through to 2020/21 as part of its on-going plans to provide around 600 new council homes. 

The £7.5 million scheme at Friar Park, Wednesbury is made up of four two-bedroom apartments, 29 two-bedroom, 15 three-bedroom and three four-bedroom homes. 

Work on the project started in March last year and the final homes have just been handed over to tenants.

Matt Simpson who has moved into one of the new properties – with his wife Sam and two young children Jenson and Logan is delighted with their new home.

“Mr Simpson said: “We previously lived in a flat so it’s great to have a new home with a garden for our family.” 

Councillor Joanne Hadley, Sandwell’s cabinet member for homes, visited the site to see the finished homes and celebrate their handover to the council. 

She said: “It’s great to see these beautiful new properties which have been built by Seddon for the council. Sandwell’s population is growing so we need to increase the number of affordable homes available to local people so they can create a stable environment for themselves and their families, and feel part of a growing community.” 

Funding for the homes at Friar Park has come from the council’s Investment Programme, and Homes England.

Helen Wilkes, senior specialist at Homes England, said: “It’s great to be working with Sandwell Council in funding a high quality development, designed to meet the needs of local people. This is an excellent example of Homes England working with partners to deliver more homes faster, helping communities and providing affordable housing using funding from the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme. We look forward to continuing our work in the Midlands to deliver more affordable homes in the future.”

Another 63 homes are set to be built on three-council-owned sites at Strathmore Road and Henn Street in Tipton, again by Seddon. 

Councillor Hadley visited the site which will see 46 two-bedroom, 11 three-bedroom and six four-bedroom homes being built. 

She added: “We’ve already handed over the keys to around 240 new homes to tenants with the building of a further 400 either underway or in the planning stages. We’re achieving this by building on council-owned sites with partners such as Seddon, or buying off plan from developers.” 

Rob Moore at Seddon, said: “Carisbrooke Road was our first project for Sandwell, and we couldn’t be more pleased. We haven’t just built new homes, during the past 18 months, we’ve worked hard to build a legacy, using the local supply chain and materials to grow the local economy. We’re thrilled to be starting on our second site at Strathmore Road and look forward to continuing our great relationship with Sandwell Council.”

The homes being built at Strathmore Road have an estimated completion date of spring 2020.