Barnesville Close, Small Heath, Birmingham
The Barnesville Close development was a technically complex affordable housing scheme that transformed a constrained urban infill site into a high-quality residential development. The project comprised 12 affordable homes delivered for Midland Heart by TR Partnership Homes, with civil engineering construction undertaken by TR Civil Engineering Central and Southern.
The site presented a number of significant engineering and construction challenges. Substantial changes in ground levels across the development required careful consideration of finished floor levels, retaining structures, drainage strategies and accessibility requirements. The constrained nature of the site, coupled with the close proximity of existing neighbouring properties, left very limited space for construction activities, material storage and site logistics. These constraints demanded detailed planning, robust technical coordination and proactive management throughout both the design and construction phases.
KLO Development Services was appointed to provide technical project management support, working closely with the client, design team, contractors and statutory consultees to ensure the successful delivery of the scheme. Our involvement extended beyond conventional project management responsibilities and included the detailed review of technical designs, construction details and specification requirements to ensure compliance with the latest Building Regulations, warranty provider standards and industry best practice.
A key element of our role was identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities that improved buildability, reduced programme risks and delivered cost efficiencies without compromising quality, performance or compliance. This included reviewing construction methodologies, rationalising design solutions and advising on alternative approaches to overcome site-specific constraints while maintaining the architectural intent of the development.
Throughout the project, KLO Development Services provided technical guidance on a wide range of matters, including site levels, drainage coordination, structural interfaces, thermal performance, fire safety requirements, ventilation strategies and detailing associated with the building fabric. Where necessary, we advised on amendments to technical drawings and construction details to ensure that emerging regulatory requirements and evolving industry standards were fully addressed.
Working within a challenging urban environment, we played a pivotal role in coordinating technical information between stakeholders, resolving design and construction issues, and ensuring that decisions were made efficiently to maintain programme certainty. Our practical development and construction experience enabled us to bridge the gap between design and delivery, helping the project team navigate complex technical issues while maintaining focus on quality, compliance and commercial objectives.
The successful completion of Barnesville Close demonstrates KLO Development Services’ ability to provide strategic technical leadership on complex residential developments, adding value through expert project management, regulatory knowledge, design review and practical construction expertise. The development now delivers much-needed affordable housing while making efficient use of a challenging brownfield site within an established residential community.