Regeneration leaders in Birmingham gathered yesterday for the topping out of the £25m Crocodile Works development in Newtown, Birmingham.

The scheme’s leader, housing and regeneration group Midland Heart, attended the ceremony alongside Birmingham City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and housing market renewal body Urban Living.

The Crocodile Works project is part of a master plan to regenerate the area by creating affordable housing via combined funding of around £25m through Midland Heart, the HCA and Urban Living.

The former factory will become 126 apartments and 42 townhouses.

Councillor John Lines (third from left, above), cabinet member for housing at Birmingham City Council, said: “The Crocodile Works and the wider Newtown regeneration is a priority area for us and we’re keen to ensure that the redevelopment of the area is about more than just bricks and mortar, but about providing opportunities for local people – work and training opportunities and the chance make a real difference.”

“We have worked closely with our partners to ensure that the residents of Newtown and surrounding areas benefit from much needed new homes and an improved environment. It follows our plans to develop a retirement village at nearby Pannel Croft, providing much needed new homes for our older people in Newtown.”

Paul Spooner, regional director for the Homes and Communities Agency West Midlands, said: “We see this scheme as a real catalyst for the wider regeneration of the area.  It is a fantastic development on a landmark site and will offer opportunities for people to move back to the area, into affordable and high quality homes.”

The scheme is on schedule for completion in early 2011.

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