Mayor vows to build more social housing

Steve Bavington, chief executive of YMCA Black Country, and West Midlands mayor Richard Parker at the SJ Dixon site in Wolverhampton

The mayor of the West Midlands has vowed to continue to build more social housing.

It comes as work begins to convert the former SJ Dixon & Son premises in Wolverhampton's Royal Quarter into 30 rented flats for the YMCA Black Country Group.

A further 63 social, rented homes are being created for Walsall Housing Group on land next door, with West Midlands Combined Authority investing £1m in the scheme.

But Richard Parker has committed to building 20,000 new social homes over the next decade, in an effort to fix the affordable housing crisis in the region.

"It wasn't just a pledge but a firm commitment of mine that we needed to give a real focus to supporting and working with our partners to develop more social homes," said Mr Parker, Labour.

"My predecessor built 46 in seven years and we're up to 400 already, either built or committed.

"I'm hoping to make further announcements in the next few months about a new deal with central government and the deputy prime minister that will allow me to build thousands more."

In late 2024, Mr Parker announced a multi-million-pound investment for hundreds of affordable homes in a residential tower scheme in Digbeth, Birmingham, which would include 141 for social rent.

In January, he announced a £1.7m funding deal for 124 social and affordable homes on five acres of derelict industrial land at the Port Loop development in Edgbaston.