NINE new homes are to be built on the former home of Solihull Council’s youth service team.

Gidney Developments has bought the site with plans to convert Victorian lodge, off Lode Lane, into three new houses.

A further six homes will be built within the courtyard with all of the houses facing into the courtyard area. Each one will also have parking.

The money from the sale of the site has been ringfenced to be reinvested into early help and youth services.

A formal application for the scheme was due to be submitted to the Council this month.

Gidney will develop the site in partnership with Birmingham-based St Bernards Property.

Although Victorian Lodge is not listed the Council has expressed a preference for it to be retained.

The site attracted considerable interest resulting in a range of bids from a number of parties, including residential developers, nursery operators and a retailer along with various community associations.

Caroline Mitchell-Sanders, a CBRE director in the regeneration and development consultancy team who dealt with the sale of the site on behalf of Solihull Council, said: “There was keen interest in this site, being so close to Solihull town centre.

“The end use is in keeping with the site’s residential surroundings and will bring much-needed new homes to the area.”