Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, launched his Building Growth Action Plan at our Swan Lane development in West Bromwich.
We are delivering a total of 147 homes for social and affordable rent on the site of a former gas works on Swan Lane. Our scheme is providing opportunities for apprentices drawn from across the West Midlands, making it the ideal backdrop for Mayor Parker to launch his construction skills strategy.
During the launch, Mayor Parker said:
“While the future feels uncertain for many, construction offers a well-paid, stable career for life. Whether you’re working with bricks and mortar or in engineering and design, there are huge opportunities.
“We are seeing a construction boom across our region and I am determined to make sure local people are at the front of the queue to secure the vital jobs this is creating – jobs that are quite literally building the West Midlands and building Britain.
“My Building Growth Action Plan will bring together investment and partners to deliver the skilled pipeline of talent that the industry needs, powering new jobs, building new homes and creating new opportunities to drive investment, growth and prosperity across our region.”
Our Swan Lane scheme is providing 147 affordable homes and providing career opportunities for young people.
The Mayor’s plan aims to bridge the skills gap by creating more training placements in construction and strengthening the transition from full-time study into work through high-quality industry placements. The plan will be led by key partners and businesses in te construction sector, who will work together to grow a sustainable pipeline of emerging talent.
Ruby Samuel-Andrews, a Level 2 carpentry apprentice currently working at our Swan Lane development, said:
“I always wanted to go into carpentry. When I was younger, I liked building things.
“I’d seen my dad building things. He doesn’t have a career in it, but he would build things like cupboards. I remember him building a bed out of the back of my grandad’s van, and I watched him do it and thought, ‘that’s something I want to do’.”
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been a key partner on the Swan Lane development, contributing £3.2 million in grant funding to support the scheme. This funding was awarded by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, which is now part of WMCA, and has helped support the significant decontamination of the land.
Ruby and Rio are two of the apprentices working for Morro Partnerships at our Swan Lane scheme.
Mike Nolan, our Head of Development, said:
“It was an honour to host the Mayor as he launched his Building Growth Action Plan at our Swan Lane development. This brownfield site has been unlocked through partnership working, transforming disused industrial land into a thriving community of new homes.
“In addition to providing much-needed affordable and social homes in West Bromwich, this development is leaving a positive legacy in the local community. GreenSquareAccord, developer Morro Partnerships and Sandwell Council have been jointly recognised for their commitment to the wider community, including providing a guided tour of the development for 60 pupils from Ryders Green Primary School and delivering a garden transformation at a nearby supported housing scheme.”
Our Swan Lane scheme meets a variety of local housing needs by providing 41 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom houses, along with 17 one-bedroom and 65 two-bedroom apartments.
The first 30 homes at the development are now complete, with construction expected to finish before the end of the year.