As this project is not the usual development we have prepared the following Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any further enquiries – or can help us out – please get in touch at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Where?
We lodged a planning application (2019/10502/PA) just before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, after its approval, Accord Housing Association (now GreenSquareAccord) purchased the land on the corner of Hunts Road and Pershore Road (to the right/south of the British Oak pub) in order to build out the project and sell to us.
Who is involved?
Stirchley Co-operative Development (SCD) has been developed over the last seven years by local workers co-operatives Birmingham Bike Foundry, Loaf Bakery & Cookery School and Artefact Projects along with local housing co-operatives. We are supported by GreenSquareAccord, a housing association with a track record of building cost-conscious ecological co-operative housing, as a consultant on this project.
We bought the land outright from Seven Capital and are not part of the development around Hazelwell Lane.
While we are a co-op, we are not affiliated with “The Co-op” supermarket chain.
February 2026 update: We are a non-profit Registered Provider of Social Housing.
How will it be managed?
The building will be owned by SCD whose membership is comprised of and restricted to the residents and businesses occupying it.
The building will be run on Somerset Rules for Co-operative Societies with a constitution agreed to by all members. Regular meetings with votes fairly distributed will decide on issues as they arise.
This co-op structure means we will never be a buy-to-let development as individual flats are not for sale and cannot be privately owned. Due to the co-operative contractual tenancies, the flats will not be subject to Right To Buy or Right To Acquire so will remain in SCD’s ownership in perpetuity for the good of our members and the community.
Effectively, once the mortgage is paid, the building is owned and run by the members, for as long as they remain tenants.
Where’s the money coming from?
Roughly half of the building costs will come from Homes England, the government body that subsidises the development of affordable housing. The other half will be a mortgage from an ethical lender. Rents will cover the mortgage, maintenance and management costs.
In the period before construction, we received a grant from the Homes England Community Housing Fund, a government scheme designed to foster community led housing developments, like ours. This fund enabled us to employ the various professionals needed to get our plans ready for submission. Due to this funding, we received funding from Power To Change (through The Big Lottery Fund), to help us get started as a 10% match fund. This fund has helped us develop as a new co-op through training, facilitation, and capacity building.
WMUCH and Interreg NWE CHARM have also provided funding for the project.
March 2026 update: We received £900,000 grant from Birmingham City Council as an allocation of s106 developers’ contributions towards our project.
What is “affordable” and how is that achieved?
“Affordable Housing” is an official term for housing that meets certain criteria such as charging rents below market rates. We are registered with the Regulator of Social Housing as a non-profit Registered Provider of Social Housing.
In addition:
- GreenSquareAccord, our partner, specialise in affordable housing, both in the construction and running of the building project.
- Energy efficiency, from insulation to solar panels, will keep running costs down.
- In the event of SCD generating a surplus, any profits will be reinvested in the co-op, increasing efficiency and reducing costs, and allowing for more co-operative social housing and worker co-op space to be developed.
We are not providing “sheltered” housing where support is given to vulnerable adults. This is simply housing that is kept affordable to those otherwise at risk of financial exploitation by landlords. We’re also not a ‘HMO’.
Can anyone live there?
There will be criteria for living at SCD, the main one being you must be in need of housing (i.e., not be a property-owner) and agree to the mutually agreed rules of the co-operative. Within reason, we will prioritise people already living or working in the local area in need of long-term decent affordable housing.
Anyone can apply to live in the housing provided by SCD and there is an application process for any prospective tenants.
Anyone who becomes a tenant also becomes a member of the co-operative and has democratic input (via voting) into the management of the building, as well as shared responsibility for managing it. There is an understanding that members will need to contribute a small amount of time to the overall running and management of the project. You can also run to be on our Board.
As a registered provider of social housing we will be accepting applications from the Birmingham council waiting list which will be dealt with through a similar process. A nominations agreement has been put in place with Birmingham City Council for the initial letting of 14 of the social rent apartments (10 one-bedroom flats, 3 two-bedroom flats, 1 three-bedrooms flats); prospective council list residents will be able to apply for the homes through Birmingham Choice (Birmingham City Council’s choice-based letting service). Residents in these flats will be also need to become members of the co-op.
We will be providing four level access flats and hope to take into consideration people with a variety of access needs. The plan was for all flats to be accessible via a lift; however, the lift has not yet been installed through the construction process. We will also be child and family friendly and look forward to welcoming new members.
Community cohesion is important to us and we will encourage and help members new to the area to get involved in the many groups in Stirchley, aided by the community-focused activities in the businesses below.
You cannot own a car when you become a member.
Can I have a pet and live here?
We understand that prospective members may own a pet of some kind when applying to live in the co-operative. Housed members may also decide that they would like to own a pet after moving in. We have developed a policy on pet ownership that consists of the following key points.
Cats: Only indoor cats will be accepted. Dogs: Assistance dogs are permitted. Emotional support dogs and companion dogs will be considered on an individual basis and we may refuse membership if the number of dogs present is deemed too high. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times within the site and cannot be taken onto the roof terrace. They should also be discouraged from fouling in the ground floor outdoor spaces. Other pets: All other pets will be considered and we may ask to visit your current home to assess this. All members who wish to own a pet after moving in will need to meet the criteria above and apply to the general meeting before acquiring the animal.
What businesses will be operating from the ground floor?
The ground floor of the building is being designed around the needs of the three founder workers co-ops.
- Birmingham Bike Foundry is a cycle repair shop. It will house a workshop and retail areas.
- Loaf is a bakery and cookery school with a kitchen, shop and classroom.
- Artefact Projects is a community art space housing exhibitions, performances, meeting spaces and a cafe/bar.
All three will see their space and activities expanding significantly. In the event of a founder business leaving, future occupant businesses must be constituted as a worker co-operative.
SCD itself aims to establish a “centre of excellence” for co-operative businesses in the region, encouraging more workers co-operatives in Stirchley by offering advice and support. In the long term we are interested in undertaking further developments in the local area, particularly in housing.
How will this benefit Stirchley?
We see benefits coming in a range of ways.
- Our building will be a long term asset contributing to the regeneration of the area, sensitive to the past and ambitious about Stirchley’s common future.
- We offer a sustainable alternative to private rental, tackling local housing issues by providing affordable accommodation and work space under common ownership.
- Over the last decade we have helped drive locally led development in Stirchley, creating a commercial environment and customer base for new businesses to establish on the high street while respecting the history and heritage of Stirchley.
- Stirchley has a 150 year history of co-operative organisations, from Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society (TASCOS) to the present day. We aim to create a “centre of excellence” for co-operatives in the Midlands assisting new and established organisations to adopt a sustainable co-operative model.
- With the exception of disabled drivers, we will operate a no-car-ownership policy, encouraging cycling, public transport and car-sharing, helping to normalise car-free living in Birmingham and reduce congestion.
- The building will be as environmentally conscious as possible within the constraints of the budget. Ancillary plans include community composting and a kitchen garden.
What will it look like?
You can view our plans on this page.
Please be aware that architectural renderings are simplified and do not show the details of the materials to be used.
You can see information about the planning applications relating to the site at Birmingham City Council’s planning portal GIS Interactive Map.
Why is there no car parking?
With the exception of disabled drivers, we will operate a no-car-ownership policy. Stirchley has good public transport links (for Birmingham) with multiple bus routes, a train station (with another on the way) and at least two car-share services. There are three safe cycle routes to the city centre close by and Birmingham Bike Foundry will support residents with bike maintenance.
This is in line with Birmingham City Council’s Parking Policy (p66).
Car ownership is a luxury and not a right. We have found that the majority of people in need of affordable housing do not own a car. We support active travel and the use of public transport wherever possible to support healthier living and better well-being for the whole community.
When will this happen?
We started construction in June 2023 and are due for completion in October 2024 April 2025 June 2025 August 2025 October 2025 November 2025 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 May 2026 June 2026.
We are doing all we can to get the project complete and purchase the project from GreenSquareAccord.
We look forward to the footpath in front of the building re-opening!
And we look forward to welcoming you through our doors!
If you can help, get in touch at [email protected]