Innovative green technology regenerates West Bromwich wasteland in UK first

Press Release - 16 July 2008

A disused brownfield site in West Bromwich has become the first in the country to be transformed into prime land for eco-homes using a ground breaking new technology.

Midland-based MarCity Developments has used an innovative extreme heat treatment to clean 35,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at the former W H Keys site in Church Lane.

The entire £22.5M development, for Matrix Housing Partnership, is set to be completed in a series of phases by 2010.

The three-hectare site, once home to a chemicals manufacturing company, will boast 150 new houses and apartments to buy or rent once it is completed.

New air-source heat-pumps, which extract warmth from the air and use it for central heating to slash bills and reduce carbon emissions, will be used in the majority of the apartments and houses.

The homes will also be fitted out with the country’s first 100% environmentally-friendly kitchens.

Councillor Bob Badham, Sandwell Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, will speak at the event.

Rob Johnson, Mar City Development Director, said: “This amazing technology has transformed a previously unusable industrial site into land fit for excellent eco homes of the future.

“We are very proud to be the first in the country to provide residential Eco Homes using this system on any scale as we feel it is vital to rejuvenate and use brownfield sites to meet housing need.

“This development is a real blueprint for how Mar City can regenerate redundant sites across the Midlands and beyond.”

Alan Yates, Director of Regeneration for Matrix, added: “This site is a perfect example of how Matrix is working in partnership to produce high-quality low-cost housing with a reduced environmental impact.

“There will be a mix of apartments and houses, many of which will be shared ownership to help first time buyers to get on to the property ladder.”