Spades in on Vistry’s Chelmsley Wood scheme

Work to build 177 affordable homes on the former Simon Digby School site in Solihull has begun, more than 30 years after the school closed for good.

Housebuilder Vistry broke ground at the 12-acre former education site this week, set to provide one-bedroom maisonettes and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. The plans also include a play area, nature trail and public open space.

On completion, all 177 homes will be owned and managed by Platform Housing Group.

“Starting work at the former Simon Digby School site is an important milestone for Chelmsley Wood,” said Fraser Hopes, managing director of Vistry South West Midlands.

“Working with Platform Housing Group, Solihull Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority, we are delivering 177 high-quality affordable homes while using timber frames manufactured off site to reduce embodied carbon and build more efficiently.”

The school closed its doors following a reorganisation in 1992, and received a £3m boost from the West Midlands Combined Authority for remediation funding in 2021. The site had been allocated for housing in Solihull’s 2013 local plan.

Vistry was named as Solihull Borough Council’s preferred developer for the site in October 2024, and planning approval was granted in March this year.

“These 177 new social homes in Chelmsley Wood are another step towards putting that right, giving local people the security of a home and the foundation to build a better future,” said West Midlands mayor, Richard Parker.

“My priority is simple: build more genuinely affordable homes, help families out of temporary accommodation, and make sure people aren’t priced out of their own communities.

“We unlocked a record 1,086 social rent homes last year and are getting spades in the ground at a faster rate than we’ve seen for many years. That’s how we’re going to tackle this region’s housing crisis.”

Kate Ellison, director of growth and innovation at Platform Housing Group, added: “We are delighted to see construction begin on this important development. These 177 affordable homes will provide high-quality, secure and affordable housing for individuals, couples and families, helping meet growing demand in Chelmsley Wood.

“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when partners work together with a shared ambition to create thriving communities. We look forward to seeing the development take shape and welcoming customers to their new homes in the future.”