About the Project

B5 Central, Birmingham

Construction of 778 homes, completed in 220 weeks. 

From apprentice bricklayer to construction manager of a major regeneration site in a busy city centre is a proud career arc for Lee Rowley. The community-focused professional made a success of this four-year scheme to build 778 units in a mix of family homes and four-storey apartment blocks. 

The development was in the heart of a city so heavily bombed during the war that every pile position had to be tested for unexploded ordnance. On a site divided into five separate plots by major roads, and surrounded by heavy footfall and traffic, Lee planned meticulously to minimise disruption for local people and businesses. He carefully scheduled the build to allow life to continue as normal for the community. By maintaining constant communication with local stakeholders and contractors throughout the build process, he was able to resolve issues quickly with little disruption. 

With 40 years of construction expertise behind him, Lee beat down the site challenges through technical skills and versatility. When the timber-joist flat roofs planned for the apartment blocks proved extremely time-consuming and cost-ineffective to construct in practice, he adapted fast. By ditching the timber for a structural layer of concrete, he ensured a much faster build while keeping the project within budget.