latest news and projects

Northfield, Birmingham, 2002—present day

Axis is working with Birmingham Housing Dept & Touchstone Housing Association on this project.

Chatham Road involves the demolition of the majority of existing Smiths housing, with the retention of 14 dwellings. Approximately 65 dwellings will be new build with a mixed tenure allocation, whilst a 60 bed Extra Care scheme is also planned on the site. The proposals incorporate a new road layout including a Home Zone link from east to west which the residents are keen to see happen.

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Camp Hill, Nuneaton 2002-2005

Axis acted as architectural and urban design consultants for Lovell Partnerships who won the competition to be involved in phase 1 of this Urban Villages Initiative.

The project, supported by the Princes Foundation, Advantage West Midlands, Touchstone Housing Association and Pride in Camphill involves the construction of 172 homes of mixed tenure including three storey townhouses and bungalow accommodation.

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West Bromwich 2000-2003

Axis in association with Beazer Partnerships, now Kier Partnerships, won the competition to create a new urban quarter for the Lyng.

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Castle Vale, Birmingham 1995—2002

Axis have worked on the Castle Vale estate since 1995 on a number of projects from area based, Neighbourhood Strategy consultative design to the detailed design of houses, flats and bungalows.

On both the Sopwith Croft and Watton Green areas we worked from a locally based neighbourhood design office meeting with local residents on an almost daily basis as we formulated the plans for their local areas. In both neighbourhoods we worked from the basis of large scale physical models which evolved as the consultation process moved to a consensus.

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Pype Hayes, Birmingham 1989– present

The rebuilding of the Pype Hayes Estate in Birmingham is Axis’s longest-running job. It was a low-rise suburban council estate built in the 1930s, of about 1400 houses. Although the houses were of conventional appearance, they were built of an untested concrete panel system, and by the 1980s it was clear that total demolition was necessary. Axis were brought in by the residents’ action group to prepare an alternative plan, which soon was accepted in place of the official one.

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