It’s one of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods – now Birmingham City Council has revealed its finalised plans to transform Druids Heath, after years of discussion
Final plans to regenerate Druids Heath into a village of homes, commerce and community with a focus on being ‘energy efficient’ have been unveiled by Birmingham City Council – but it will be ‘at least two years’ before work starts.
The final planning application for the largely-neglected area of the city has been submitted, after years of consultation and false starts.
The scheme will see the estate’s skyline tower blocks demolished, replaced by 3,500 new ‘energy efficient’ homes, including around 1,785 homes described as ‘affordable’. But it appears only 400 of the new homes will be available to council tenants.
The council confirmed it had not yet appointed the project’s developer partner, and that it would be two years before a development agreement was signed.
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When it does finally kick on, the council said the new homes would be built alongside new green spaces, with improved transport links, and there was a pledge to revitalise ‘commercial and community spaces’ in Druids Heath.
More than half of the homes, 51 per cent, will be affordable, but of these only 400 will be available for social rent. The remaining properties will be delivered through what the council described as a ‘partnership agreement with a developer and a Registered Provider’.
The transformation of Druids Heath, which was recently the backdrop for BBC drama This Town, has been in the pipeline for generations. Local resident Peni Whelan previously described her fears the plans would mark the death of the estate’s history and culture, while others said they faced losing homes they had lived in all their lives.
Artists’ impressions shared with residents showed the authority’s vision for the estate. All the homes in the south and north east of the estate will be demolished in several phases that will take up to 20 years to complete.
Ms Whelan, who runs the community radio station Hope Radio, said people would not be able to afford to move back once the work was complete. “It’s not a regeneration. It’s a demolition.”
Coun Jayne Francis, city cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “I am pleased we now have a plan in place to deliver a regeneration of Druids Heath and to provide much need new affordable homes to the city.
“For the past two years, we have been working with the community in Druids Heath to develop a plan to regenerate the area, one that meets the needs of the people who live and work there.”
“Residents have been vital to ensuring this plan delivers for Druids Heath. The most common comment was that the timescales for the plan were too long, so we have changed the plans to deliver faster.
“This regeneration will build the types of homes we need to tackle climate change, reduce residents’ fuel bills, and contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions.
“The plans take advantage of the estate’s key strengths – community spirit and abundance of green space – to make a healthier, more sustainable place to live.
“Any regeneration will affect people’s homes and can, therefore, be a significant cause of distress for residents. To help, we will appoint independent advisors to advise homeowners throughout the process to ensure our residents feel supported and informed. We will also hold regular in-person drop-in sessions for people to ask any questions.
“We also understand residents’ concerns about being priced out of the area. For this reason, the council is looking at how we can use different financial models to give residents an opportunity to remain on the estate. We will let residents know more about these models as soon as we are able. It is really important to the council that everyone who wants to stay in Druids Heath can do so.”
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