Tag: Burcote Road

Posted on

COMMUNITY ANCHORS: The Pioneer Group announces two new social housing developments in Erdington and Minworth

Representatives from Seddon Housing Partnerships and The Pioneer Group at the Burcote Road development / Photograph supplied by The Pioneer Group

Words by The Pioneer Group

The Pioneer Group has announced plans to develop two new housing sites at Burcote Road and Lindridge Drive, delivering 36 new social rent homes as part of its wider commitment to providing high‑quality, affordable housing across North Birmingham.

Work on both sites has begun, marking an important step in Pioneer’s ambition to build the right homes in the right locations.

The Pioneer Group is the modern day community led housing association, managing over 2500 homes across Castle Vale and other areas, that grew from the old Housing Action Trust (HAT) established in 1993 – as part of Government led a nationwide initiative to give more local power to underprivileged housing estates across the country.

Other Housing Action Trusts were established in London, Liverpool, and Hull.

The Burcote Road and Lindridge Drive developments form part of Pioneer’s wider strategy and development programme, which aim to deliver around 250 new homes over the next five years, supporting housing need while maintaining a strong focus on quality, affordability and place‑making.

 

At Burcote Road in Erdington, Pioneer will deliver 10 new homes for social rent with construction undertaken by partner Seddon. The scheme is being built on land purchased from Birmingham City Council and will be supported by funding from Homes England and Pioneer, with Seddon appointed as build partner.

Located within Erdington Ward, the development aligns closely with Pioneer’s Development Plans, which focuses on placing appropriate schemes in well‑connected locations where they can best meet local housing needs.

Tony Clark, Regional Director, Seddon Housing Partnerships, said: “We’re proud to be partnering with The Pioneer Group to deliver much-needed affordable homes at Burcote Road. This development reflects our shared commitment to creating high-quality, sustainable homes that will make a lasting positive impact for local communities.”

At Lindridge Drive in Minworth, Pioneer have put spades in the ground on a 26‑home social rent development, delivered in partnership with Morro Partnerships.  The scheme will provide a mix of modern, high‑quality homes designed to support individuals, families and long‑term community sustainability.

Representatives from Morro Partnerships and The Pioneer Group at the Lindridge Drive development / Photograph supplied by The Pioneer Group

Tom Broadway, Managing Director (West Midlands), Morro Partnerships said: “Delivering sustainable homes and helping communities thrive is our core focus at Morro. Choosing timber frame construction for our first project with our partners at Pioneer will not only speed up delivery, but also ensure the homes are more energy-efficient and cost-effective for future residents.

He added: “Building with the future in mind is a responsibility we take seriously, and we are excited to be working with Pioneer to deliver much needed homes in the area.”

The Burcote Road and Lindridge Drive schemes are supported by Homes England funding, alongside Pioneer’s own private financing to ensure schemes remain both deliverable and financially sustainable. This also includes just over £1.4 million in funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority, which has enabled Pioneer to move from an affordable rent model to social rent, helping to keep rents as low as possible for new tenants.

The Pioneer Group CEO Simon Wilson / Photograph supplied by The Pioneer Group (Copyright Phil Greig)

As an anchor organisation based in Castle Vale, Pioneer remains focussed on staying local, responsive and connected to the communities it serves.

While both Burcote Road and Lindridge Drive sit outside the Castle Vale estate, the developments reflect Pioneer’s commitment to using its strong local foundations to deliver affordable homes where they are most needed.

These projects also reflect Pioneer’s wider priorities to deliver great homes, support resilient communities and sustain the legacy of regeneration for future generations.

Simon Wilson, Chief Executive at The Pioneer Group, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing forward these two new developments, which represent another positive step in our long‑term commitment to delivering high‑quality social rent homes.”

He added: “By investing in the right sites, working with trusted partners and securing strong financial foundations, we can continue to meet housing need and support communities now and, in the years, ahead.”

For more on The Pioneer Group visit www.pioneergroup.org.uk

The Pioneer Group are key partners in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme – supporting independent local and community journalism.

Posted on

NEWS: Criminal defence lawyer with family in Erdington to stand for West Midlands Mayor

Words by Edington Local editorial team / Pics supplied by Akhmed Yakoob

A criminal defence lawyer with family in Erdington is a last minute candidate for the upcoming mayoral elections, standing as an independent on 2 May.

Akhmed Yakoob is a director at Maurice Andrews Solicitors, based in Hockley, and offers defence counsel to people charged with crimes from bank fraud to murder. The strapline on the Maurice Andrews website reads: ‘There is a defence for every offence’.

Mr Yakoob is also a prominent social media figure in the region, with 122k followers on Instagram and 596 followers on X (formerly Twitter).

He also has 176.2K followers on TikTok where he offers no holds barred legal advice. One of his online videos on the popular platform, ‘Two things you can’t be arrested for’, has received over 600k views.

But the latest mayoral race hopeful believes he can offer the region fresh leadership and an alternative to the main political parties who he feels “speak for no-one”.

Mr Yakoob grew up in Aston and now lives in Aldridge, but has close family in Erdington on Burcote Road – just off Tyburn Road. 

He says he has seen first hand the “pain” that successive Conservative governments have brought with their austerity agenda and cuts to services such as the police force and social housing.

He told Erdington Local: “For 13 years the Tories have had power and places like Erdington have felt the pain that has brought.

“Crime has gone up in the West Midlands and people want change.”

Mr Yakoob also has personal experience of how HMOs can adversely impact a residential area, as they have in Gravelly Hill, Stockland Green, and elsewhere across the Erdington constituency.

He said: “I grew up in Aston, but as I have four children I had to move out because of the amount of HMOs in the area… which I know the people of Stockland Green and Erdington also suffer the consequences of.”

He added: “They (HMOs) ruin an area, drug dealing goes up, and I just did not want my children to grow up around that.

“As Mayor I will do everything I can to stop HMOs ruining residential areas.”

The last candidate to announce his campaign to become West Midlands Mayor and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, this is the first attempt at running for elected office for the 36-year-old father of four.

However, his Twitter profile reads ‘Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Ladywood Birmingham’ – referencing the seat currently held by Shabana Mahmood MP, who recently faced protests from her own constituents after abstaining on a vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Mr Yakoob believes his candidacy will also be a direct threat to the Labour Party, who he feels have taken the South Asian vote “for granted” and will be “scared” of his bid for Mayor.

He has also received the backing of prominent politician George Galloway, who won the Rochdale by-election in March on a pro-Palestine platform – standing for the Workers Party of Britain.

On his campaign brochure Mr Yakoob has also referenced the conflict in the Middle East, stating ‘LEND GAZA YOUR VOTE’ and encouraging people to support his bid for Mayor on 2 May.

Inside the leaflet, the first two campaign pledges are for “unashamed support” and “aid” for people in Gaza, with the troubled area of Kashmir – fought over by India and Pakistan – also referenced.

In a recent tweet, George Galloway vocalised his endorsement for Mr Yakoob in his bid to be West Midlands Mayor.

He posted: “The only choice for #WestMidlandsMayor @Akhmedyakoob1”

Mr Yakoob told Erdington Local: “I am delighted to have got the endorsement of George Galloway. He is a man who stands against injustice and I am proud to have him at my side.

“He will be coming to Birmingham to campaign by my side.”

He added: “The main political parties speak for no-one, that is why I am standing to be a voice for the voiceless.

“Of course Labour are scared that I am standing, for generations they have took the South Asian vote for granted.

“George (Galloway) showed in Rochdale Labour cannot count on the South Asian vote and my election will further prove that point as we head into a General Election.”

As a criminal lawyer for Maurice Andrews, Mr Yakoob and has represented defendants from across the city.

When asked how he can promise to cut crime whilst also making a living representing people charged with serious offences, he said: “I love my job. And I believe everyone in this country deserves a fair trial.

“And I also believe in the rehabilitation of offenders, as their lawyer during a trial I am often the first person to see someone make the decision to change their ways, whether they are found guilty or not.

He said: “Crime keeps on going up and our court system cannot cope after so many cuts.”

Mr Yakoob also founded his own gym in Walsall called Pound 4 Pound which encourages youngsters to swerve street violence.

He said: “The motto of our gym is ‘Gloves Up, Knives Down’ and I see how knife crime wrecks lives.

“I want to save youth centres and employ more youth workers but in Birmingham they are closing them down and cutting youth worker jobs.”

He added: “I urge young people to register to vote so they can back me on 2 May.”

Also running for West Midlands Mayor are Richard parker (Labour), Sunny Virk (Lib Dems), Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Greens), Elaine Williams (Reform) – alongside incumbent Mayor Andy Street (Conservative).

For more on Akhmed Yakoob click on the links to follow him on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.