🎄Seasons greetings to all in Stirchley 🎄
We want to provide some updates about progress on our construction site. Things have been progressing swiftly this year, though we have had a some setbacks with utilities suppliers which have slowed down our construction team a little bit. We hope to get the keys in late January early February. Thanks to the hard work of the people and workers who have been helping us throughout this year!
There are two fundraisers currently running to help support Artefact and Loafs move into their new premises.
In terms of the site so much has happened. We have been overjoyed to see windows and walls going into the commercial units, being able to go on site tours and see the amazing views from the rooftop gardens and the solar panels being installed. Flat interiors are pretty much complete apart from the finishing touches and electrics. Ceilings in the communal corridors and commercial spaces are next, and the final render is going on the outside of the building.
More generally we are pressing ahead with the process of becoming a registered provider – this will enable us to own our building and receive grant from Homes England so that we can provide the residential accommodation at an affordable rate.
We have also held a series of community planning sessions for the creation of a second co-operative building on the site proposed for a Mcdonalds, by the Aldi. We worked with community architects Unit 38 who specialise in working with groups to co-develop their ideas for community resources such as brownfield sites like this. Over 150 people attended the three sessions and we held a street stall with foam blocks for modelling site ideas. With Unit38 we will develop these plans into a positive community focused vision for the new site. To get involved in that process you can join our the related whatsapp channel and forum.
We have been disheartened by the repeated flagging of our neighbourhood by an organised far right group based in Bromsgrove and direct people to this website created by many local residents and workers : https://stirchley.is/for-everyone/ about that situation. We hope that the next year, with our new building opening, and creating new community space for the neighbourhood will bring people together in the area rather than divide us.
If you want to keep up with what we are doing and be ready for plans of the launch keep an eye on our socials and sign up to our irregular newsletter which also publishes things going on in Stirchley.
Merry Christmas!
