25/02/09 - Improving lives in Birmingham

Midlands based Thomas Vale Construction joined with Councillor Lines and residents at Stud Lane, Birmingham this week to celebrate the completion of the first kitchen and bathroom in the Birmingham Construction Partnership ‘Decent Homes Scheme’.

Birmingham City Council's Urban Design Department, Thomas Vale and two other contractors have committed to working together as a team, focusing on improving the design, cost and quality of buildings for the City to ensure that they meet the ‘decent homes’ standard. Together they form the BCP (Birmingham Construction Partnership) The Government has set a target to ensure that all social housing meets standards of decenct by 2010. Currently a third of all housing in England falls below that standard. Poor housing and poor environments are detrimental to people’s quality of life; Decent Homes are an essential part of a sustainable community.

On behalf of the Birmingham Construction Partnership (BCP) we at Thomas Vale are very proud that the Decent Homes programme is delivered by teams that are very supportive to understanding people’s needs and has developed and encouraged friendships through out all the communities for everyone in Birmingham to be proud of."
Paul Dockerill, Housing Regeneration Manager, Thomas Vale Construction

Thomas Vale has recently announced their unique partnership with E.ON, Worcester Bosch and West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence to deliver sustainable technologies to clients across the Midlands. As part of this initiative Thomas Vale will be presenting tenants with E.ON energy saving gift boxes on completion of their home.

Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “I am committed to ensuring every council home in Birmingham reaches a decent standard. In December 2008 we achieved over 85% decent homes. This council will continue to improve council housing to provide a better quality of life for residents across the city. Our people will benefit from better homes and this will mean healthier communities.

The BCP has been listed by the OGC as an Exemplar project and has received industry recognition during 2007 celebrating the successes of the Partnership. These include the National Award for Integration and Collaboration in the Constructing Excellence Awards and the first ever Contract Journal Supreme Award for changing the way the U.K. Construction Industry works.

Accreditations and Affiliations