The project, for Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT), involved creating three and four-bedroom family homes.

When the team were packing up after completing the Cat Lane scheme, operations manager Jim Donnelly had a lovely surprise. He explains, “We always make a real effort to be considerate and give back to the local communities we work in so I was delighted to receive an email out of the blue from local resident Barbara Osborne with some really lovely feedback. It put a smile on the face of everyone in our team!”

Here is what Barbara had to say in her email:

Dear Mr Donnelly,

It has come to my notice that occupants for the houses being completed by your company at Cat Lane, Shard End will shortly be moving in. So here in The Oaks we will soon be losing the building activities taking place right under our noses, so to speak.

As the occupant I feel this is the time to convey my gratitude and those of others I have spoken with in The Oaks, for the great attitude of your work force and for what they have accomplished in such a short time. They have conducted themselves in an orderly manner and appeared well kitted out for the dirty work of the building trade. It’s been a delight to see how well the rubble and everything else, has been contained behind cerise coloured fencing. A far cry from the old rusty corrugated iron fencing of earlier years.

It’s also been noticed that during their time here none of us had reason to complain about the parking of the many cars used to get them here from their residences. This could have been a big source of contention for which we are grateful not to have experienced.

Your managers Chris and John especially deserve praises for how efficient and orderly everything appears to have been conducted. Both being business like and cooperative, while answering all our enquiries with courtesy and a smile.

And although when your project is completed, it will be good to have our clear view across The Green back, I guess we will miss seeing the interesting phases of your project as it has taken shape. Your staff are a credit to your company and the new homes look amazing. So much better than before.

We now look forward to sharing The Oaks and Cat Lane with our new neighbours.

Wishing you all success and a bright future.

As a way of saying thank you to Mrs Osborne, Jim went to her house and presented her with a bouquet of flowers, to show how much her warm praise meant to the team.