Major affordable housing scheme approved for north Solihull
A partnership between Vistry and Platform Housing Group will deliver 177 new homes in Chelmsley Wood on a 4.5-hectare former school site, in what has been confirmed as a 100% affordable development. The programme — approved and now moving into delivery — will create a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses alongside one-bedroom maisonettes, with Platform set to own and manage the completed properties.
Plans also incorporate community amenities including a play area, a nature trail and new areas of public open space designed to improve connectivity and biodiversity across the site. The partnership says the scheme will add high-quality family housing while enhancing the public realm in one of the borough’s most densely populated neighbourhoods.
Partners highlight local need and long-term stewardship
Vistry, which is delivering the homes for Platform, said the focus is on providing family accommodation built with modern construction methods and with an emphasis on sustainability.
“We are delighted to be working with Platform on a 100% affordable development, which will make a meaningful contribution towards addressing local housing need,” said Fraser Hopes, acting managing director at Vistry South West Midlands. “By delivering high quality family homes using modern methods of construction, we are committed to supporting a more sustainable future for Chelmsley Wood.”
Platform Housing Group, which will be the long-term landlord for the estate, said the location and demand for affordable homes in Chelmsley Wood made the site a priority. Kate Ellison, the organisation’s director of growth and innovation, said the partnership model was central to bringing the scheme forward and underlined the group’s commitment to invest over the long term in the community.
Council: former school site unlocked after years of groundwork
Solihull Council has described the development as the culmination of sustained work to bring the brownfield site back into community use. The authority carried out masterplanning and feasibility exercises to enable development to proceed. Cllr Mark Parker, cabinet member for housing, praised the collaboration that has taken the proposal from vision to delivery, noting the combined benefits for local families and for the surrounding neighbourhood.
“This development is a great example of how strong partnerships can help us deliver the homes our residents need,” he said. “As well as providing much-needed housing for local families, the scheme will bring investment into community infrastructure, create attractive new public spaces and support a [local community].”
The council’s emphasis on partnership reflects a wider effort across the borough to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes. While precise tenures have not been detailed at this stage, the commitment to a fully affordable mix suggests the new neighbourhood will be accessible to households whose needs are not being met in the private market.
What the scheme includes
- Homes: A total of 177 properties — two-, three- and four-bedroom houses plus one-bedroom maisonettes.
- Tenure: 100% affordable, with Platform Housing Group to own and manage all homes.
- Site: 4.5 hectares, formerly occupied by a school, repurposed for housing and community use.
- Public realm: New play area, nature trail and public open space to serve residents and the wider community.
At-a-glance
| Location | Chelmsley Wood, Solihull |
|---|---|
| Total homes | 177 |
| Tenure | 100% affordable |
| Site size | 4.5 hectares |
| Developer/Delivery | Vistry (for Platform Housing Group) |
| Owner/Manager | Platform Housing Group |
| Community features | Play area, nature trail, new public open spaces |
Local impact and next steps
For households in north Solihull facing long waits or rising private rents, the arrival of a fully affordable estate of this scale is notable. The build-out is also set to improve local amenity with newly created open spaces and a nature trail integrated into the masterplan, which may help connect nearby streets and provide safer, greener routes for families. With Platform as landlord, residents can expect the homes to be managed within a single stewardship framework, which is often associated with more consistent maintenance and estate services.
Bringing a large former school site back into use also aligns with local objectives to prioritise brownfield land and to ensure growth is accompanied by investment in community infrastructure. While a detailed construction timetable has not been published, both partners are positioning the scheme as a flagship example of partnership delivery aimed squarely at Solihull’s most acute areas of housing need.
Residents will watch closely for updates on start dates, phasing and allocations. For those interested in future tenancies, Platform typically provides information and application routes via its website and through local authority housing registers. The council has encouraged residents to engage with consultation material as the scheme progresses and to make use of the new public spaces once they open.
