The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Investment Board this week reviewed two 'red rated' housing schemes in Solihull, revealing significant delays and rising costs. The Middlewood House project, originally scheduled for completion in June 2023, will now not finish until June 2027. The scheme requires an additional £450,000 on top of its original £240,000 budget to deliver 23 affordable net zero homes.
Middlewood House: Budget Increase and Extended Deadline
Ian Martin, WMCA Director of Commercial and Investment, confirmed the change request during the board meeting. "The change request is seeking an increase in budget by £450,000 and an extension to June 2027," he said. The project is part of the 'Accelerated Housing Delivery – Utilising Solihull Assets' programme, which aims to repurpose council-owned land for housing.
The original budget for Middlewood House was £240,000, but the new funding requirement brings the total to £690,000. The scheme is designed to deliver 23 affordable homes with net zero carbon emissions, a key priority for the region's sustainable housing strategy.
Rowood Drive: Playing Field Conversion Delayed
The Rowood Drive development, which plans to build 33 homes on a former council playing pitch, has also faced significant setbacks. The project's completion date has been pushed back from September 2025 to August 2028. Mr Martin explained the scope of the work: "The project is to make a former playing field into a housing project."
Despite the delays, both projects have reached advanced planning stages and have submitted applications. This progress suggests that while timelines have slipped, the schemes remain viable and are moving forward through the planning process.
Overall Programme: Extended to 2032 with Additional Funding
The broader 'Accelerated Housing Delivery – Utilising Solihull Assets' programme has also been affected. The overall programme's completion date has been pushed back to 2032, requiring an additional £424,000 in funding. This adjustment reflects the cumulative impact of delays and cost increases across multiple projects within the initiative.
The WMCA Investment Board's review of these 'red rated' schemes highlights the challenges facing housing delivery in the region. Red ratings typically indicate projects that are behind schedule or over budget, requiring close monitoring and corrective action. The board's decision to approve the budget increases and deadline extensions will allow the projects to continue, but the additional costs and extended timelines underscore the difficulties in delivering affordable housing on time and within budget.
For Solihull residents, these delays mean that the promised affordable homes will take longer to materialise. The Middlewood House and Rowood Drive projects are part of a wider effort to increase housing supply in the area, and their completion is critical to meeting local housing needs. The WMCA and Solihull Council will need to manage these projects carefully to avoid further overruns and ensure that the additional funding delivers the intended outcomes.
