In 2003 The West Midlands New Economics Group was awarded a grant of £10,000 by the West Midlands Social Economy Partnership to do action research on sustainable housing in Small Heath.

The project looked at how renewable energy technology could be applied to the existing housing stock of Small Heath and what scope there will be for starting local social enterprises to do the work. The grant approved by the West Midlands Social Economy Partnership is funded by Advantage West Midlands through the UK Government’s Single Regeneration Budget 6 Challenge Fund. The Accountable Body for the funding is the West Midlands Co-operative and Mutual Council Ltd. The findings were presented in the form of an illustrated book that was published in April 2004. The full report can be downloaded from www.sustainable-housing.org.uk