Community

North Solihull resident’s group appoints ‘community champion’ as new chairman

Kingshurst and Babb's Mill RIG Chairman, Dan Knowles

(20th May 2008)

Members of a North Solihull residents' group have appointed community champion Daniel Knowles as its new chairman.

Formed as part of the £1.8 Regenerating North Solihull project, the Kingshurst and Babbs Mill Residents' Implementation Group (RIG) was set up earlier this year with a view to involving members of the local community in important decisions throughout the life of this 15-year project.

Kingshurst resident Daniel Knowles was an ideal candidate to head up the residents group with experience in the property industry as a surveyor and close community links through his role as a governor at Kingshurst Primary School.

Daniel said: "I decided to join the RIG because I care about what happens to our community and the group presents a wonderful opportunity to help shape the future of Kingshurst and Babbs Mill. 

"As someone who lives locally and has been involved with various property projects across Birmingham through my work as a surveyor, I believe I owe it to the local community to use my knowledge to help out whenever I can.  My time as a governor at Kingshurst Primary will also help as it has given me a good knowledge of working relationships in the area."

Over the next 15 years, the Regenerating North Solihull project will see the construction of more than 8,000 new homes and the improvement of 12,500 more, as well as the creation of five new village centres and the replacement of every primary school in the 1,000 acre regeneration zone.

Daniel believes the regeneration project presents a fantastic opportunity for the entire area.  He said: "The project is great news not only for Kingshurst and Babbs Mill but for the entire North Solihull area, making it an area others will aspire to and attract the investment the local residents deserve. It will take some time but there will be a big difference, especially when the work starts on the new Village Centre.

"I have high hopes for the RIG – we don't just want to be a talking shop.  We want to feed into the process, influencing what is built or demolished in our area.  Regeneration is for the residents, so the project needs to be influenced by the residents.  If anyone in the Kingshurst and Babbs Mill area feels they would like to become involved, please get in touch and attend our next meeting."

The North Solihull Partnership, which is delivering the Regenerating North Solihull programme, consists of Solihull Council, regeneration specialist Inpartnership, Whitefriars Housing Group and housebuilder Bellway. Whitefriars' Becke Ayres, said: "The appointment of Daniel as the group's chairman is another important step in our aim of involving the community in our plans for the area.

"Having someone with Daniel's background and obvious passion for the area and the project will provide a real boost for both the partnership and the residents.  It is important the residents have the platform to voice any concerns and also to feel involved in the project as much as possible.  The introduction of Residents' Implementation Groups provides a perfect opportunity to do this."

For more information please visit the Regenerating North Solihull website, found at www.northsolihull.co.uk.  The website contains everything residents need to know about the £1.8 billion project, from the reasons behind it to what residents can expect over the 15-year life-cycle of the scheme.