Some 1,000 new homes have been completed as part of the first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham.

The city council said the £326 million project on a former university campus in the north of the city is a key step in the regeneration of the area.

Lendlease, the principal contractor for the Birmingham City Council scheme, has said the project has beaten many of the targets it was set to help the local economy – including supporting more than 650 new jobs throughout the construction process, including almost 100 apprenticeships.

The was a big emphasis on employing women throughout the build, which the contractor also worked with Solihull College to deliver English for Construction courses for people who have English as a second language.

A council statement said: “Over the course of the £326m contract, £267m has been spent by Lendlease with local businesses, and workers have devoted 2,679 hours to volunteering in the local area, the equivalent of four months of continuous work, and nearly three times the target they were set.

This included working with Eden Boys School and Welford Primary School to build and maintain outdoor learning areas, as well as collecting for local food banks.”

The tallest building on the scheme is 15 storeys and the first residents are expected to move in later this year.

It is all part of a wider £700 million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure, all of which is underpinned by the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan.

Lendlease worked with Kier, Willmott Dixon, PJ Careys and Vinci UK to deliver the project.

Anna Evans, Lendlease project director for the scheme, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at the end of this project. Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the team responded quickly to adapt to new ways of working and tirelessly devoted themselves to completing the project.

Not only that, everybody went above and beyond to truly create a lasting legacy for Perry Barr, with new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives. I want to thank everybody involved for their hard work and I look forward to seeing the first residents moving in and enjoying this vibrant new neighbourhood.”