Construction work on the largest infrastructure project directly related to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has officially begun.
A ground-breaking ceremony was staged at the Commonwealth Games Village site in Perry Barr – which will provide a home away from home for around 6,500 athletes and officials coming to the city in the summer of 2022.
Members of the local community including pupils from Arena Academy were joined by dignitaries from the Games Partners – the organisations that have joined forces to deliver the 2022 Commonwealth Games – as well as Team England athletes to mark the occasion.
The construction work for this residential element of the village, built on the site of the former Birmingham City University campus, is due for completion in early 2022.
Commitments secured by the council through various mechanisms, including the Birmingham Business Charter for Social Responsibility, mean that the lead contractor on the residential element of the Commonwealth Games Village will provide:
- The development of on-site training and engagement facility and a related £1.28million package of training (thanks to funding unlocked by the West Midlands Combined Authority);
- 1,000 pre-employment training places, giving those involved the skills and industry accreditation to work on construction sites more widely in the city and region;
- 50 existing apprenticeships working on site via the project’s supply chain;
- The creation of 400 jobs, including 50 new apprenticeships and 30 paid summer intern (6-week) placements;
- An overall total of 22,000 person weeks of training and employment opportunities (for the 2022 Games) against a benchmark for a project of this size of 18,000 person weeks.
Post-Games, the development will be converted into more than 1,400 homes for the people of Birmingham, the first phase of a long-term regeneration plan for Perry Barr and surrounding areas that will provide 5,000 homes – required as the city’s population is forecast to increase by 150,000 in the period covering 2011-2031.
As part of the wider regeneration of Perry Barr, the village will sit in legacy mode alongside improved open space, a redeveloped Alexander Stadium and related community, sport and leisure facilities as well as transport improvements including a new Sprint rapid bus service from Birmingham to Walsall. Upgrades to cycling and walking routes and a reconfiguration of the highways network along the A34 are also proposed.
And in order to engage with the Perry Barr community, the city council has today announced the launch of a programme of site visits for local schools and community organisations, full details of which will be announced in the months ahead.
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform an area of Birmingham that has long needed investment, so I am hugely proud that the biggest sporting event in the city’s history will act as a catalyst for the development of a new high-quality residential neighbourhood.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “I’m delighted to be here today as the first spade goes into the ground at what will be a superb home from home for the athletes and a fantastic legacy for the city – leaving more than 1,000 new homes for people here after the Games.
“The combined authority has been instrumental in securing government funding and we look forward to seeing the project come to fruition and people making the most of the opportunities for jobs and homes in the future.”
