NEC Campus hotels to become Birmingham 2022 Athlete Village

• Athletes and team officials will be housed in three ‘campus’ villages close to competition venues – at NEC Campus hotels, The University of Birmingham and at the University of Warwick

• Legacy housing will still be delivered with work on Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme continuing

• Decision taken now after review of construction programme in response to impact of COVID 19 - delivery of the Games remains on time and on budget
        

The organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have today announced that athletes and team officials will be housed in three ‘campus’ villages, with hotels on the NEC campus set to host 1,600 athletes and officials.

The decision was made to move away from the single site athletes’ village in the Perry Barr area of the city by the Games Partnership with just under two years to go, after reviewing the impact of the global health pandemic.  It follows an assessment by the Games’ project delivery team, who has been working with the construction supply chain, as well as independent experts, on how they could de-risk Games delivery. With a shorter than normal timeframe for delivery of the Birmingham 2022 Games, the new build accommodation site was under continued review from the outset, with expert consultation throughout, and had very little scope to withstand the impact COVID-19 has had on construction.

The Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme, with new housing and transport infrastructure, will still be delivered.  This council-led residential scheme has been accelerated due to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and has been made possible with additional investment from central government.

The new three-site campus model for Birmingham 2022 athlete accommodation will be delivered within the overall Games budget of £778 million, with the Games remaining on track to be delivered on time and on budget.

The decision to move to three campus villages across the West Midlands has the support of athlete representatives and Commonwealth Games Associations across the world who have been told of the new plans.

Why Birmingham 2022 chose NEC Campus hotels:

• World-class credentials in hosting global visitors to the region
• Close proximity to NEC competition venues and their training facilities – minimising transportation requirements
• Approximately 1,600 bed spaces, primarily in 4-star accommodation
• Excellent accommodation with largely en-suite single or twin rooms

Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022 said:

“These are challenging times for all of us and delivering a major multi sports event during this period has meant we have needed to collaborate effectively, be pragmatic to change, and remain realistic about the challenges we face.

Birmingham and the West Midlands is extremely fortunate to have superb alternate facilities and we are making this decision now, with two years to go, to de-risk the project, ensure delivery for athletes and teams and secure the legacy of new housing and transport infrastructure in Perry Barr.

This is the sensible and pragmatic thing to do for the Games, the athletes and for the people of Birmingham. It enables Birmingham City Council to focus on the delivery of the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme and gives us enough time to plan essential Games services like transport and security. Furthermore, it offers athletes and teams the assurance of a warm welcome and a superb Games experience in their homes-from-home across the West Midlands”.