A new community – 25 years in the making.
A unique partnership project launched a quarter of a century ago to reinvigorate a Birmingham community is on the verge of completion.
In 1994 Witton Lodge Community Association and Birmingham City Council established the Rebuilding Programme in Perry Common. Construction work on the last of 166 new homes being developed off Dovedale Road and Enderby Road has now ended. This brings the total number of new homes built to 913.
That leaves just one phase of work remaining with the council aiming to complete improvements to Perry Common Recreation Ground. Work on this starts shortly.
Ron Williams, principal housing and development manager at Birmingham City Council, said: “The project has provided a massive uplift in the quality of facilities across the local community Once the recreation ground has been completed, it will improve the biodiversity of the area and complete Perry Common’s transformation into a modern, thriving urban neighbourhood.”
Meanwhile Chief Officer at Witton Lodge Community Association, Afzal Hussain, said the end of the project completes a momentous and historic journey for Perry Common.
“The Association was established by local residents in response to plans to demolish the Perry Common estate,” he said. “We have, over the last 25 years, worked tirelessly to rebuild the community, ensuring that local people influenced all the important decisions.
“Working in partnership with the council to find the right solution for Perry Common residents, traders and other businesses, what started life as an innovative proposition became the light at the end of the tunnel few could have hoped to achieve but we were determined to succeed.”
Hi, I’m Resident Director and Chair of Witton Lodge Community Association. My home was one of those that had to be demolished and I have been actively involved in the redevelopment ad regeneration for the last 28 years.
It’s been, and continues to be, a pleasure and a privilege to work with local people and workers to make that difference!