Invest in Community
Stirchley Co-operative Development is a grassroots, community-led project rooted in B30, south Birmingham, England (UK).
Our development combines permanently affordable homes, democratic workplaces and active community spaces.
Our Progress
Founded in 2018, Stirchley Co-operative Development is a non-profit Registered Provider of Social Housing . Over the past decade, community members in Stirchley, Birmingham (the second biggest city in the UK) have been working to regenerate the high street, delivering 39 zero-carbon-ready, car-free social rent homes and purpose-built premises for three worker co-operatives – shielding them from the high street rent increases pushing business out of the area.
We are now seeking loans through non-equity non-transferable bonds (sometimes called loan stock) to to bridge the remaining funding gap and complete the purchase of the building.
A vital local housing and business project is under threat. After ten years of dedicated effort to create affordable, community-led housing, Stirchley Co-operative Development is facing an unfair financial demand that could jeopardise its future.
The International Co-operative Alliance’s Principle 6: Co-operation Among Co-operatives calls on co-ops to work together locally, nationally, and internationally. Investing in SCD is an act of inter-cooperative solidarity — channelling capital from the international co-operative movement to a project that embodies the same principles in the UK. It puts Principle 6 into practice across borders.
We are calling on the international co-operative movement for financial investment and solidarity.
The project broke ground in June 2023, with partner housing association GreenSquareAccord owning the land and managing the main contract. In February 2024, just one month after 20 households joined the co-op following over 200 households applying for a place in the co-op, the contractor Tricas Construction, went into voluntary liquidation.
GreenSquareAccord’s in-house team took over, with a similar overall cost predicted But repeated delays have pushed the completion date from October 2024 to June 2025 with a small increase in cost which was manageable as rent inflation covered it; this has now slipped to June 2026, resulting in huge cost and increases and hardship for members.
GSA are attempting to pass over £2 million in cost overruns onto the local community group.
Registered Provider of Social Housing
SCD achieved non-profit Registered Provider status in February 2026. This is a regulated status under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, overseen by the Regulator of Social Housing. Our business plan, governance, and financial plans have been significantly scrutinised before being granted this status.
What is at stake
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Financial Burden | The project provides 39 affordable homes and purpose-built spaces for local businesses that were to be owned and run by the people who live and work in the area. SCD represents 10% of all social rent housing built in Birmingham between 2020 and 2025. |
| Risk to Local Businesses | Local co-operative businesses Artefact Projects, Birmingham Bike Foundry and Loaf Bakery and Cookery School are now facing the threat of insolvency. |
| Risk to Residents | The stability and future homes of local residents are being put at risk. Some residents are currently experiencing homelessness. |
| Risk to Local Democracy | SCD risks losing control of the scheme, with the potential for GSA to become the sole landlord, undermining years of voluntary work and community-led democratic management. |
Project Timeline
A history of the Stirchley Co-operative Development project, from its inception to the current bond offer.
Project Conception & Formation
Project conceived by local residents and worker co-operatives; SCD founded as a non-profit co-operative society.
Planning Permission Secured
SCD secured planning permission for the Pershore Road site.
Construction Begins
Construction commenced on site with contractor Tricas Construction Ltd.
Contractor Insolvency
Tricas Construction entered administration; GSA’s in-house team took over construction responsibilities.
Registered Provider Status
SCD attained non-profit Registered Provider (RP) status with the Regulator of Social Housing.
Ownership Dispute
GSA leadership informed SCD of its intention to retain ownership of the building, initiating a dispute over the project’s future.
Bond Offer Launch
SCD launched a community bond offer seeking £1–2m to secure the project’s viability.
Bond Investment Details
We are looking for bonds (unsecured or secured):
Total amount
£1 million with stretch targets of £1.5 million and £2 million.
Individual bond amount
>£20,000 (smaller amounts considered)
Interest rate
<3.5%/annum (paid annually or on maturity)
Security
- < £150,000: No security offered
- £150,000 – £500,000: Tertiary charge
- > £500,000: Secondary charge
Investment Example
Investment amount: £75,000
Interest rate: 2.75%
Term length: 10 years
With compound interest you get:
- Total compound interest payment: £23,374
- Total repayment at end of term (capital + interest): £98,374
Interest rates are flexible between 0% and 3.5% per annum. Lower rates support the SCD mission more deeply.
🏗 Your Investment Powers Real Change
Stirchley Co-operative Development (SCD) is reviving a 150-year legacy of community ownership in the West Midlands of the UK.
We are building more than just homes and community spaces, we are building a sustainable, affordable, and democratically controlled future for the people of Stirchley.
The Benefits of Our Development
This project is set to provide 10% of the Social Rent housing built in Birmingham from 2020-2025 and will provide the following to residents and the larger community:
Stability for existing worker co-ops
Rising rents driven by gentrification threaten the businesses and workers who depend on affordable, secure premises. This project protects them.
Purpose-built design
Residents and worker co-ops have shaped every aspect of the building to suit how they actually live and work, supporting long-term trading and growth.
Zero-carbon ready
No gas connection. Renewable electricity generation, heat pumps, and a highly efficient building fabric protect residents from energy price shocks now and in the future, with reducing emissions as the grid decarbonises. We are also keen to be involved in innovation projects to improve heating and cooling efficiency in our building.
Zero-carbon development
39 social rent homes for car-free households, co-located with a bike shop, Birmingham’s only bicycle frame builder, and strong public and active travel links — enabling high-quality, high-mobility lives without a car.
Community Hub
A Community Hall, café, arts space, cookery school, courtyard, and cycle training facilities give the public meaningful access to co-operative life in Stirchley. The project provides affordable homes, dependable services, and quality employment for people being priced out of the area.
Your investment through bonds is not just a financial transaction, it’s a direct contribution to local resilience, social equity, and long-term community wealth.
🤝 Be Part of the Stirchley Story
By investing in SCD, you’re not just funding bricks and mortar, you’re supporting a movement for community-led development.
Note that this document is focused on UK based investors, contact us and we can discuss specifics based on your location.
Find some more specific information about your locality:
Investment Resources
Glossary of Terms
- Bond
- A fixed-income investment where an investor lends money to an entity (government or company) for a defined period at a specified interest rate.
- Secured Bond
- A bond backed by specific assets of the issuer. In the event of default, bondholders have a legal claim on those assets to recover their investment.
- Unsecured Bond
- A bond not backed by any specific collateral or assets; it relies solely on the creditworthiness and reputation of the issuer.
- Charge (Legal)
- A legal term for the security interest a lender holds over an asset to ensure repayment of a loan.
- Secondary Charge
- A security interest that ranks behind a first charge. If the asset is sold to repay debts, the first charge holder is paid first, followed by the secondary charge holder.
- Tertiary Charge
- A security interest that ranks behind both a first and a secondary charge, providing the lowest priority of claim among the three in the event of default.
Let us know if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to discuss this process in more detail.