Cat Eccles MP, Member of Parliament for Stourbridge, welcomed Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, to the Stourbridge PowerHaus site on Friday 6 February, alongside Councillor Jason Griffin and local community leaders, to mark visible progress on the long-running community-led housing project.

The visit brought together representatives from Stourbridge Community Development Trust, GreenSquareAccord, and members of Stourbridge Community Land Trust, all of whom have played a central role in championing the project and establishing the principle of community-led housing in Stourbridge.

The Stourbridge PowerHaus scheme is one of a number of sites being supported across the West Midlands through WMUCH, demonstrating how community ownership and community-led development can help address housing need, climate change, and long-term sustainability across the region.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

“It’s really encouraging to see the progress being made at Stourbridge PowerHaus. Projects like this show what’s possible when communities are empowered to shape development themselves. Community-led housing has a vital role to play in delivering genuinely affordable homes, tackling the climate challenge and strengthening social cohesion across the West Midlands.

“I’m pleased to be back in Stourbridge and I look forward to returning again – whether that’s to see the completed development in 2027 or to enjoy Stourbridge’s fantastic cultural and creative scene.”

Cat Eccles MP said:

“It was great to welcome the mayor back to Stourbridge and to finally see real, visible progress on a project that has taken years of determination and hard work from local people.

“The PowerHaus is about far more than bricks and mortar. It’s about affordable, energy-efficient homes, retaining creative people and key workers in our town, and showing how we can meet housing need while also responding to the climate emergency.

“This project has been supported by people from across the political spectrum, and that matters. It shows what can be achieved when communities, partners and public leaders work together in the common interest.”

Eddie Morton, representing the Stourbridge Community-Led Housing PowerHaus, said:

“This has been a long journey, but today feels like a real milestone. The members and board of Stourbridge CLT, alongside Stourbridge Community Development Trust and GreenSquareAccord, have been steadfast in their commitment to making community-led housing a reality here.

“PowerHaus is about democracy, community ownership and social cohesion as much as it is about housing and energy. It’s a victory for Stourbridge, and we hope it helps pave the way for similar projects across the West Midlands.”

The Stourbridge PowerHaus project aims to demonstrate how community-led housing can deliver affordable, low-carbon homes while supporting local creativity, skills and employment, and strengthening community life. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.

ENDS

Photo attached: Cat Eccles MP, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, and Eddie Morton from Stourbridge Community Development Trust and Stourbridge CLT at the Stourbridge PowerHaus site