Children choose snappy new names for scheme

Schoolchildren were given the chance to put their stamp on the multi million pound Crocodile Works development in Newtown.

Pupils aged six to eight at nearby William Cowper Community Primary school were invited to choose a name for the first phase of the Midland Heart scheme, while ages two to six were asked to suggest a new name for the road running adjacent to the building, Mews Walk.

The winning names were chosen by development partner Birmingham City Council, and announced at a school presentation, with the first phase christened ‘Crocodile Court’ and the road renamed ‘Austin Lane’.

Designed to bridge the gap between the area’s past and present, the competition set out to find suggestions with a connection to the local area, either geographically, historically or culturally.

Crocodile Works is part of a master plan to regenerate the area as a whole, which will see the former factory redeveloped to provide affordable housing in the form of 146 apartments and 42 townhouses.

Graham Bettam, development manager at Midland Heart, said: “Encouraging the local community to get involved in the regeneration process is central to our approach.

“This initiative has been a great way of getting local children to be creative whilst keeping them in touch with the historical significance of the area.”

The winning names recall the industrial heritage of Newtown, paying homage to the original name of the factory and remembering car manufacturer Herbert Austin, a factory employee who went on to establish the Austin Motor Company at Longbridge in 1905.

Headteacher at William Cowper, Charlotte Davis, said: “This competition has been a valuable opportunity for our pupils to explore local history, and seeing their suggestions in use will be an important reminder of how they can contribute to their surroundings.”