![\"Construction](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FRIAR-PARK-ROAD-1200px-MIN1__thumb.jpg\" "\\"Construction")
<\/a><\/p>\nWork is underway at the Friar Park Road scheme in the Sandwell district of the West Midlands (picture: West Midlands Combined Authority)<\/p>\n
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West Midlands mayor reveals \u00a33m investment as part of affordable housing push #UKhousingWest Midlands mayor Richard Parker has announced \u00a33m of investment to build more homes and tackle the housing crisis in the region #UKhousing <\/p>\n
The funding will be used to back two schemes as part of an aim to build 2,000 new social homes every year across the West Midlands by 2028.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the larger of the two sites, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is contributing \u00a32.6m towards building 108 homes on a former General Electric Power Conversion site in Rugby, Warwickshire.<\/p>\n
The scheme is being developed by major Midlands housing association Orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of the 108 homes, 72 will be for social rent and the rest will be for shared ownership.<\/p>\n
The \u00a326m six-acre development is also being backed by Homes England and will feature a mix of flats, maisonettes and houses. The scheme is being built by Staffordshire-based house builder Morro Partnerships.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Phil Andrew, group chief executive of 46,000-home Orbit, described it as \u201cthe first step in an exciting long-term investment\u201d for the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The other scheme will see the WMCA invest \u00a3450,000 to clean up a brownfield site in Wednesbury, a town in the Sandwell district of the West Midlands.<\/p>\n
Thirty-four homes are planned across the two-acre site off Friar Park Road, which will be offered at discounted rents or through a Rent to Buy scheme.<\/p>\n
The \u00a37.4m development is being built by Keon Homes for 30,000-home housing association Citizen. The scheme is also being part-funded by Homes England.<\/p>\n
Mayor Mr Parker said: \u201cThis is yet another example of how we are transforming underused or derelict sites into vibrant new places where people can afford to live and raise families.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s part of my commitment to build affordable homes at a time when too many people are struggling to secure the safe, warm home they need to get ahead in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
In November, the government allocated \u00a31.7bn for WMCA under the new \u00a339bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. It is hoped the funding could help build around 10,000 new homes across the West Midlands over the next decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Parker also announced a \u00a340m Social Housing Accelerator Fund<\/a> in October last year to convert around 1,000 properties to social rent homes.<\/p>\n Sign up to Inside Housing\u2019s Development and Finance newsletter<\/p>\n Sign up to\u00a0Inside Housing\u2019s weekly Development and Finance newsletter, featuring a\u00a0round-up of business, development and regeneration news and analysis.<\/p>\n Click here to register<\/a> and receive the Development and Finance newsletter straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n And subscribe to Inside Housing\u00a0by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n