Housing association Bromford has entered a new partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Citizen Housing, Green Square Accord, Midland Heart and whg to address the growing need for affordable homes in the West Midlands.

Through the Homes for the West Midlands LLP partnership, Bromford says it will work closely with WMCA to identify strategic sites and opportunities to develop genuinely affordable homes that meet the needs of local people.

On 18 October, Bromford’s Chief Executive, Robert Nettleton, joined fellow CEOs and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, to celebrate the launch of the new partnership at LoCal Homes, an award-winning offsite housing manufacturing facility in Walsall.

Robert Nettleton said “ This marks a significant step forward in tackling the housing challenges our region faces. By collaborating with WMCA and fellow housing associations, we’re able to take a more unified approach to identifying sites, accelerating the development of affordable homes, and addressing specific local needs with greater impact. This partnership offers a unique platform to pool our knowledge, resources, and strategic insights to deliver affordable homes that truly meet the needs of our communities.”

Managed by consultancy firm Integer Advisory Ltd, the partnership is structured to focus on effective, results-driven development, including adopting innovative building techniques like modern methods of construction (MMC) and modular housing. Bromford says the homes are constructed in factory-controlled environments and then assembled on-site, enabling the delivery of energy-efficient, low-carbon housing more quickly and at lower costs.

The first project for the partnership will be a 100% affordable housing development on a former industrial site in the Black Country.

The partnership will also provide a framework for developing and implementing the region’s Affordable Homes Programme, which will be devolved from Homes England to the WMCA in 2026. According to Bromford, the transition will give it and its partners greater influence in shaping housing priorities, ensuring that affordable housing projects are well-suited to meet the demand across the West Midlands.

At present, 64,000 people are on the region’s housing waiting list, with over 6,500 households, including 13,000 children, residing in temporary accommodation. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has made housing one of his top priorities, setting a goal of 2,000 social rent homes per year until 2028 to reach a total of 20,000 new affordable homes by the end of the decade.

As the country’s biggest builder of social rent homes, Bromford says it is already committed to expanding affordable housing options.