Construction work has started to build 51 affordable homes at housing association, Citizen’s, redevelopment of the former Ivy Club in Coventry Road, Birmingham.

The development will also see the 1,000th affordable home built as part of the Matrix Housing Partnership’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England.

The Matrix Housing Partnership is a consortium of social landlords. It’s led by Green Square Accord (GSA) and is also made up of Black Country Housing Group, Citizen, The Pioneer Group, Rooftop Housing Association and Trident Housing Association.

In October 2021, the Matrix Housing Partnership also secured £185m from the UK Government’s Affordable Homes Programme to support a further 2,167 affordable homes which will start before April 2026.

At the Coventry Road development in Sheldon, 51 one and two-bed flats will be built. The site was previously home to the Ivy Leaf social club which was run by the Royal British Legion.

A hidden war memorial, which was on the former car park, will also be moved to a more prominent place when the development is finished.