Cameron Homes has selected Birmingham Hospice to operate a 125m2 community café at its Rookery Park development, off Kingsbury Road in Erdington. An initial three-year lease has been gifted to the Hospice charity for the ground floor space, which includes a brand new kitchen and accessible toilet.
Dating back to 1727, the grand home - considered one of Birmingham’s finest residences - was commissioned by Abraham Spooner, an ironmaster who was the proprietor of Bromford Forge and Aston Furnace. Close to Erdington High Street and surrounded by public open space, the site is significant for its association with anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, whose wife, Barbara Spooner, was born there. The house is noted as a place where they planned their campaigns against slavery.
Rendered in white and originally named Birches Green House, in 1871 it was renamed Rookery House by its then occupant, pencil-case manufacturer William Wiley. It was later owned by Birmingham City Council and used as offices, before falling into disrepair for several decades. HBF 5-star housebuilder Cameron Homes undertook significant restoration and redevelopment work to secure its future, with the building now incorporating 15 one- and two-bedroom apartments, in addition to the ground floor community cafe. 40 family houses have been constructed in part of the property’s expansive grounds.
Jo Mann, people, engagement and social impact partner for Cameron Homes, said: “We advertised to find an operator for the Rookery Park community café, which benefits from a commercial kitchen and wonderful outside space to spill out onto. We were approached by local businesses, but also by Birmingham Hospice, who have previously been supported through the Noel Sweeney Foundation. A proportion of our profits are given to the Foundation, so it can be reinvested and donated to those most in need within the communities we operate in.
“Birmingham Hospice supports local people in communities across Birmingham seven days a week and this new café will allow them to build on the strong links they have already forged in Erdington. We are proud of our painstaking work to restore and repurpose this former dilapidated office building, as heritage assets like Rookery House play such a vital part in the character and history of Erdington.”
The Noel Sweeney Foundation donated £512,000 to 199 local causes last year alone. In addition, staff from Tara Group – which consists of Cameron Homes, Chasetown Civil Engineering and Keon Homes – devoted 700 volunteering hours to 23 charities and projects during 2025.
Michelle Stuteley, Birmingham Hospice’s Director of People and Culture, said: “Birmingham Hospice has been serving the Erdington community since 1910, and the café is an extension of the relationships and connections our teams have built over many years. We are very grateful to Cameron Homes for choosing us to be the custodians of the Rookery House café.
“We have created a welcoming place which we hope will bring the local community together. People can come along and enjoy a drink or delicious snack while also learning more about the services the hospice provides.”
The new café – opening shortly – will be known as Hive in the Park. It is accessible via Spring Lane, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9BP or from inside Rookery Park. As well as offering good-value drinks and food, it will provide a warm and friendly space for local people, with the venue available for community groups to book outside opening hours. It will also provide information on the range of support the hospice offers local people.
Established in 1994, Cameron Homes is currently delivering over 200 homes across 11 live developments and has a pipeline of future sites expected to deliver circa 1,000 new homes.
