The Bromford Story
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The Bromford story Bromford Racecourse under redevelopment Formed back in 1963, with only a small number of Our name comes from Bromford Bridge in Castle Bromwich, as Before the First World War, there were only a small number of charitable housing bodies properties, we have grown and evolved into the social one of our first developments was built near here. such as the Guinness Trust, Peabody and some industrial companies who supplied rented business that we are today - helping people to be the homes for their workers but they were relatively small in number. Local authorities only best they can be. With over 50 years of housing heritage, Bromford Bridge station opened in 1896, primarily to serve the started to provide rented homes in any volume after the Great War. we would like to share with you our journey so far. Birmingham Racecourse that had opened nearby in 1865. One hundred years later, the station closed following the decision The development of new affordable housing became an objective of those established This is our story. to close the Racecourse in 1965. The original Bromford Bridge, charitable organisations such as Peabody and Cadbury but they expanded relatively slowly which would have been at the rear of the station building, still until the 1960s. remains in place today. Bromford Bridge Racecourse • One of our first schemes was two Our milestones blocks of apartments built in the sixties at West Heath Road, Castle Bromwich. The founders took the brave step of exchanging contracts on the purchase of this development • In the early sixties Britain’s population was starting to bulge at 53 million. before any guarantee of funding was Bromford’s first development This began to have a major effect on the availability of housing. In in place. This was something Birmingham alone there were 30,000 people on the waiting list for a home. co-founder Keith James describes as: “A very exciting time. We believed we could really make a difference to the • In 1963, our founders had the foresight to not only recognise the need housing shortage, so we stuck our heads on the line and just went for it.” and the severe housing shortage, particularly in Birmingham, but they also One of Bromford’s early developments, Bromford Rise. Our in-house maintenance team in the late 70’s spotted a commercial opportunity. In 1963 quantity surveyor - Charles • In order to take advantage of loans from the new Housing Corporation an entirely new association had to be formed as a ‘society’. This became Bucknall, estate agent - Robert Oulsnam and solicitor Keith James launched ‘Second Bromford Housing Society’. Bromford Housing Association Limited. The first recorded meeting took place on 21st November 1963. 1963 1965 1972 1974 Documentary, Cathy Come Home. In the 1960s several housing 1964 - The Housing Corporation was founded. Its 1966 - The BBC screened Ken Loach’s inspirational 1972 - The Housing Finance Act allowed 1973 - The National Federation of Housing 1974 - The Housing Act creates a framework of Housing associations were established by function was to make loans to ‘housing film about homelessness ‘Cathy come the Housing Corporation to make Societies changes its name to the Association Grant, which remains unchanged until professionals in order development societies’ with the most early funding home’. Shelter is founded as National loans and grants available to housing National Federation of Housing 1988. The grant was first available this year for business and to secure limited funding directed at co-ownership societies. Campaign for the Homeless. Many of associations for new-build schemes. Associations. building new homes and refurbishing existing stock. from the newly formed Housing - 1,000 housing associations owned up to today’s major housing associations date - Housing Corporation gains the powers to register and Corporation. The number of Housing 100,000 dwellings in the UK. from this time and are still known as supervise Housing Associations. Associations (HAs) grew substantially ‘Shelter’ associations. - Rent Act imposes new controls, accelerating the after the 1974 Housing Act which opened the way for grant funding. decline of the private rented sector. • By the mid to late 70’s Bromford was Ken Burton - managing around 400 homes and yet it was Bromford’s first employee still being managed by the founders, who were interviewed in 2013 also still doing their day jobs. This became a struggle and so they decided to appoint a general manager, Ken Burton became the first Our first computer Bromford employee and worked out of Robert Oulsnam’s offices in Birmingham. • The repairs for Bromford’s properties were carried out by Robert Oulsnam’s business. This was until more properties were acquired The opening of Lloyd House and then maintenance was brought in-house and the Mick Kent OBE, chief executive Wolverhampton depot was opened. • We acquired and refurbished Lloyd • In the early days we were involved in buying and refurbishing • At this time a change in legislation saw the House in Sparkbrook, Birmingham properties, but by 1976 the emphasis was on building new founders step down from their duties, as the to provide Bromford’s first • Mick Kent joined Bromford as chief properties. law changed and prevented professionals dedicated office. The building was New homes in Perton, Wolverhampton executive on 17th July 1984. • 117 new homes were built at Bromford Rise, Penn Fields in from sitting on management committees formally the home of Sampson Wolverhampton of HAs. This changed following concerns Lloyd one of the founders of Lloyd • New homes were completed at Perton • The Haven in Blakenhall, • Other new builds at the time were Bromford Mews and that there was a conflict of interest between An early committee meeting Bank. This space also included near Wolverhampton, on a former Wolverhampton was built providing Overdale Court in Moseley – all for rent in Birmingham. members professional interests and their eight flats for those in housing airfield site - 300 homes were for rent, sheltered flats for older people, 15 • This year we had our First Housing Corporation Monitoring roles on HA committiees. A group of need and it was officially opened 36 for shared ownership. family homes and 4 units for older Bromford management Inspection. volunteers took over Board responsibilities, • Building on the experience of equity share by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. members of the asian community. committee members along with 10 other paid colleagues by 1980. since 1972, we started building homes for • Four Oaks in Sutton Coldfield • In this year we merged with Progressive shared ownership. provided 126 new homes. Housing Society. 1976 1979 1980 1981 1983 1984 1985 1976 - Strict public spending controls that were 1979 - New Conservative government 1980 - The Major Housing Act increases the 1981 - The Housing Benefit system 1983 - The Introduction of ‘Do It introduced lead to major disruption under Margaret Thatcher, Housing Corporation’s supervisory was introduced for the first Yourself Shared Ownership’ in housing association development which made a commitment to a powers, and introduces a new funding time. (DIYSO). programmes. reduction in public spending. regime for Low Cost Home Ownership - The Homeless Persons Act obliges local (LCHO). authorities to assist homeless families and - Right to Buy was introduced for council others in priority need. tenants and some HA tenants. Prime Minister - Margaret Thatcher • The ‘Sundowner’ scheme for older people was built in Kings Norton – this was later called Premier Court comprising of 51 flats and bungalows • This year we merged with Carinthia HA to plus a warden’s flat. become Bromford Carinthia Housing Association • When the Care in the Community which led to growth in Shropshire and stock in Policy was introduced (to ensure that Wales. the treatment and care of physically • A high increase in homelessness and housing and mentally disabled people took need in the West Midlands saw 5,000 applications for housing with us being only able Shaw Road, a place in their own homes, rather new purpose built than in an institution) we decided to to make 267 new lettings. Bromford office build and acquire small care homes • Main areas of activity were Birmingham and Wolverhampton with increased emphasis on • Work started on our new offices at Shaw Road in Some of the management team The Oakes, Wolverhampton in partnership with Solihull Health at Lloyd house, Sparkbrook in the late 80’s • In this year we employed 46 colleagues. Authority. This was as a result of the Solihull, Sandwell and Telford. Wolverhampton. • In August 1987, we moved our Wolverhampton • Metchley Abbey sheltered scheme in closure of Middlefield hospital for • Around 40% of new developments were in • Tan Bank office in Telford • Our first Wolverhampton office opened in Chapel office to The Oaks, a mixed new build and Harborne Birmingham opened in March learning disabilities. This marked the rural areas including Shropshire, Stratford and opened in July 1991. Ash as a satellite office to the one in Birmingham. refurbished scheme for older people. 1988. start of our supported housing work. Herefordshire. 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 - The Housing and Planning Act paved the way for Tan Bank office, Telford 1986 - Housing Association rents Local Authority transfers of tenanted stock to HAs. 1988 deregulated with all new tenants - The First experimental ‘mixed funding schemes’ placed on ‘assured tenancies’. were introduced to combine public and private 1989 - The CORE system is launched, 1990 - The Tenants Incentive Scheme was 1991 - In this year competition for Housing Corporation funding - Housing Benefit was abolished for sources of finance in HA development. Bromford recording full information about introduced by the government to was introduced, leading to pressure on standards and rents young single people, leading to seized the opportunity to move things forward and housing association lettings.