Stirchley Co-operative Development

Stirchley Co-operative Development (SCD) is a community-led co-operative based in Stirchley, Birmingham, England. It brings together local people organised in housing and worker co-operatives to build affordable, eco-friendly residential and community premises in the heart of Stirchley. The project is developing land on Pershore Road to provide homes for three local community premises alongside 39 apartments, an approach the organisation describes as quite different from typical profit-driven developments because it is run on co-operative principles. The development is designed to house three worker-owned businesses — Artefact Projects, Birmingham Bike Foundry, and Loaf Bakery and Cookery School — together with housed members. This mix of residential and community uses reflects SCD's aim of creating permanently affordable housing and secure premises for local enterprises rather than maximising returns for private developers. SCD operates as a co-operative rather than a conventional company, and its activities are shaped by its members. As of the evidence available, the organisation is seeking investment to secure the viability of its community-led project, and it maintains a solidarity fund to support housed and worker members in times of need. It publishes news updates and plans on its website, including views of the proposed development along Pershore Road and Hunts Road. The project has been described as Birmingham's community answer to the housing crisis — 39 affordable homes and three worker-owned businesses, ten years in the making. In 2026 the organisation reported that the scheme was being sold out, and it has been the subject of an open letter from Birmingham City Council to GreenSquare Accord. SCD continues to campaign for support under the banner "Protect Our Community: SCD Needs Your Support" and launched a Stirchley Community Plan in March 2026. Because SCD is a co-operative, ownership and governance rest with its members rather than external shareholders. It is not a listed company. Its public presence centres on its website, stirchley.coop, where it explains its plans, answers common questions, and invites contact and investment.

Stirchley Co-operative Development emerged from local organising in Stirchley, Birmingham, where residents involved in housing and worker co-operatives came together to address the need for affordable homes and secure community premises. The project is described as ten years in the making, indicating that its origins lie roughly a decade before its 2026 public updates. The organisation set out to develop land on Pershore Road in the heart of Stirchley. Its plan combines 39 apartments with premises for three local community businesses: Artefact Projects, Birmingham Bike Foundry, and Loaf Bakery and Cookery School. This integrated model — housing members alongside worker-owned enterprises — is central to SCD's identity as a co-operative rather than a conventional developer. By 2026 the project had reached a critical juncture. On 22 May 2026, SCD reported that the scheme — described as Birmingham's community answer to the housing crisis, with 39 affordable homes and three worker-owned businesses — was being sold out. On 28 May 2026 the organisation issued a call under the heading "Protect Our Community: SCD Needs Your Support." On 6 August 2026, Birmingham City Council published an open letter to GreenSquare Accord regarding the Stirchley Co-op Development. SCD also launched a Stirchley Community Plan on 24 March 2026. Throughout this period SCD has sought investment to secure the viability of its community-led project and has maintained a solidarity fund to support housed and worker members in times of need. The organisation continues to publish plans and updates on its website, including views of the proposed development along Pershore Road and Hunts Road.

• Stirchley Community Plan Launch

• SCD reports the scheme is being sold out

• SCD issues 'Protect Our Community: SCD Needs Your Support' call

• Birmingham City Council publishes open letter to GreenSquare Accord on the Stirchley Co-op Development

Community-led, co-operative, affordable and eco-friendly development, distinct from profit-driven developers.

• 39 affordable apartments on Pershore Road

• Premises for Artefact Projects

• Premises for Birmingham Bike Foundry

• Premises for Loaf Bakery and Cookery School

1. 1Stirchley Co-operative Developmentstirchley.coop
2. 2Stirchley Co-operative Developmentwikidata.org