A major step towards easing Birmingham’s housing pressures has been secured with a new agreement paving the way for 65 affordable homes on Long Nuke Road in Northfield. 

The deal, brokered by Birmingham City Council in partnership with Keon Homes and housing association Bromford, marks the latest in a series of collaborative developments aimed at expanding the city’s supply of genuinely affordable homes.

Council sold the site to facilitate the project   

The council has sold the Northfield site to facilitate the project, with Keon Homes set to build the properties and Bromford taking on ownership and long-term management. 

Of the 65 homes, 22 will be available for social rent and allocated to those in greatest need, while another 22 will be offered at affordable rent to applicants on the council’s housing waiting list. 

The remaining 21 will support aspiring homeowners through Bromford’s shared ownership scheme.

More than just housing

Beyond housing provision, the development includes significant community investment. 

New sports pitches and a changing pavilion will be constructed in nearby Senneleys Park, ensuring that the project enhances both the local environment and amenities for residents. 

The ability to progress the scheme before planning permission expired was, according to project partners, a notable achievement given the complexities of the site.

Matt Beckley, Partnerships Director at Keon Homes, said: “We have an extremely strong relationship with both Birmingham City Council and Bromford and this helped us unlock an especially difficult project at Long Nuke Road. We’ve defied the odds to amend planning, complete legals and deliver the vision for the site ahead of planning expiring – with the start on site being achieved just two weeks before the deadline. 

“This project also has the full backing of Homes England. Together, we will build sixty-five, high quality affordable homes on a strategically important site in Birmingham, as well as creating a host of community facilities, including new football pitches and a pavilion.”

The third agreement

This latest deal is the third such agreement the council has reached this year with developers and registered providers to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes. 

Earlier partnerships include nearly 300 homes agreed for the former Yardley Sewage Works in Stechford, and another scheme bringing 10 social rent homes to Trescott Road. Each reflects the council’s growing emphasis on collaborative models to supply warm, safe and energy-efficient housing.

Backed by the Council

Cllr Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Delivering more decent affordable homes for Birmingham families is a key priority for this council, and every single home on the Long Nuke Road development will be affordable. This deal with Keon Homes and Bromford shows what can be achieved by working in partnership with others and this is the third such deal we’ve signed with a developer and housing association this year. I urge all partners and stakeholders to work with us in bringing forward new sites and opportunities for affordable housing developments, so together we can rapidly increase the number of affordable, warm, safe, and energy-efficient homes available for Birmingham residents.”

Part of a wider initiative 

For Bromford, the project forms part of a wider commitment to large scale affordable housing delivery across the region. Lyndon Parkes, Head of Land at Bromford, added: “Securing this site is a significant milestone for Bromford and reflects our commitment to tackling the housing shortage both in Birmingham and across the wider region. 

“We are delighted to be working with Keon Homes and Birmingham City Council on this exciting development, that will deliver high-quality, affordable homes that will make a real difference to families who need a safe, affordable place to live. 

“Every project like this helps us move closer to our goal of building 2,000 homes a year that create thriving communities and transform people’s lives.”

Birmingham housing struggles

With housing demand in Birmingham at some of its highest levels in decades, the Northfield development represents a meaningful step towards increasing supply, strengthening partnerships and ensuring more families have access to secure, sustainable homes within their communities.