Willmott Dixon has been chosen to deliver 25 net-zero homes in the Kingshurst area of Solihull
This project is part of a broader plan to develop Kingshurst, which will involve the transformation of the village centre in multiple phases.
The objective is to create a combination of sustainable housing and retail spaces; all centred around a new community health and wellness hub.
Willmott Dixon will complete the project on behalf of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) and Solihull Community Housing (SCH).
Willmott Dixon’s has already worked on the demolition of the main shopping area in Kingshurst and has undertaken preliminary work for the net-zero homes.
Work on the net-zero homes is underway
Construction work has already begun, focusing on building three- and four-bedroom family homes as well as one-bedroom maisonettes. Groundwork is currently in progress on flood defences for these residences.
This project aligns with past Willmott Dixon projects across the country. The company oversaw the construction of the first homes in South Wales that met the exceptionally efficient Passivhaus standard in 2022. They also went on to build more Passivhaus standard homes in Barking for Be-First.
“The regeneration will bring wide-ranging benefits for the local area, and the net-zero carbon in operation homes will go a long way to increasing energy security and protecting residents from fuel poverty,” said Dan Doyle, director at Willmott Dixon.
“We are taking a sustainable, fabric-first approach for this development, using timber frames with a high air tightness score to keep the net-zero homes well insulated and extremely economical. Each property will work off air source heat pumps instead of gas, have windows with a low U-value for high thermal efficiency, be fitted with integrated PV and be designed to Secured by Design standard,” he continued.
Investing in the local area
Willmott Dixon will contribute £1.78m in social value, which includes setting up a Building Lives Academy (BLA) on-site. This initiative, funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority and in partnership with Solihull College, aims to address local unemployment and provide construction skills training.
Solihull Community Housing has appointed a community engagement officer for the project to keep local residents, business owners, and community members up to date with the regeneration progress.
“It’s wonderful to be able to congratulate Solihull Council on their leadership of this project – ensuring suitably sensitive redevelopment of the site, prioritising high-quality housing that is both sustainable and affordable, and keeping a clear focus on enabling the Kingshurst community to thrive,” said Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands.
“Right across our region, we’re on track to build 215,000 new homes by 2031, and the regeneration of Kingshurst is helping us to deliver on this ambitious goal. I cannot wait to see this scheme come to life,” he concluded.
