Work on £17 million homes site restarts

Work on a £17 million housing scheme in the Black Country has resumed following the appointment of a new contractor.

The project was left in limbo when building services firm Rok, which was handling the scheme on behalf of the Midland Heart housing association, collapsed.

But Stourbridge-based Mansell Construction has now taken over the construction and social house building division of Rok, meaning work on the homes development in Bagnall Street, West Bromwich, has been able to restart.

Carl Larter, Midland Heart's director for new business and development, said: "The appointment of Mansell is really good news as the site is now fully operational and the development is now progressing well.

"We are particularly pleased that all existing site and office jobs have been retained and we are now working to implement our training requirement in-line with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) funding, which should see local procurement and job opportunities too."

The development on the former industrial site in Bagnall Street will create 106 low-cost new homes for rent.

The 4.8-acre site development is being led by Midland Heart in partnership with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and the HCA.

Stuart Belfield, managing director of Mansell Partnership Homes, said: "We are delighted to be resuming work on this project to deliver much needed homes for the community of West Bromwich and Sandwell.

"Not only have we been able to secure the existing on-site delivery team, but we are also working with Midland Heart and Sandwell MBC to deliver training and apprenticeship opportunities on the scheme."

The sale of Rok's construction and social house building division to Mansell, the construction arm of Balfour Beatty, saved 381 jobs.

But 3,400 posts were still lost after Rok's collapse.

Despite talk of about 100 inquiries, administrators failed to find a buyer for the rest of the company.

The scheme is on schedule to be completed in early 2012.