Birmingham housing co-operative celebrates 25 years of living

A Birmingham-based housing co-operative that provides homes for 46 families is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The story of Paddock Housing Co-operative started when a group of residents living in flats in Chuckery who were waiting on the council’s  list for a permanent home decided to build their own houses. With support from Birmingham Co-operative Housing Services (bchs), the 10 families set up a housing co-operative.

The co-op’s first houses were completed in 1989, but Paddock Housing Co-operative has since built homes in another six local streets. Twelve homes were developed in the early 2000s, after the co-operative acquired the land where a former garage and bakery was situated. All of its 46 houses are within walking distance.

Margaret Cope founding member and treasurer of the co-operative, said: “The last 25 years of Paddock Housing Co-operative have flown by, filled with happy memories, challenges and changes.

“Two and even three generations of families have grown up in the co-operative and I’m proud of how we have cared for our children and grandchildren as a family.”

At Paddock members take an active role in running the co-op. They organise their own repairs and maintenance service, control rent areas and allocate houses.

“I truly believe that housing co-operatives are a good way of living in an environment of choice and we will continue to work together to provide a secure and co-operative community for families to grow up in for many years to come,” added Ms Cope.

Paddock is one of the nine housing co-operatives across Birmingham and the Black Country that work with bchc. Congratulating the co-operative on reaching this milestone, Carl Taylor, director of bchs, said: “Paddock is a thriving organisation which is testament to the hard work and dedication of its members, who manage everything from repairs and maintenance of homes to the allocation of properties.