Major housing-led regeneration planned for Ladywood

Birmingham City Council is to seek a development partner for a major housing-led regeneration of Ladywood, one of the city's inner-city neighbourhoods.

The decision to bring the proposals forward and begin the search for a partner was approved by the council's cabinet on 12 February.

Homes for families

Ladywood, which sits close to the city centre, has long been identified as a place that could provide family housing alongside better public spaces, walking routes and community facilities.

The area lies between the major developments under way in Westside and along Broad Street, and the housing growth planned at Greater Icknield. It was identified for regeneration in the Big City Plan, launched in 2010.

The council wants a partner with a successful track record of delivering housing regeneration. The partner will be expected to work closely with the local community to draw up a new masterplan for the area that meets the needs of residents.

A growing city

Councillor Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods, said the city needed more affordable family homes in accessible places.

"With the city's population set to grow by 10% over the next 15 years, there is a pressing need to deliver more affordable, family housing within accessible locations," she said. "To this end, the regeneration proposal of Ladywood is a hugely ambitious project that will help us to transform and rejuvenate the neighbourhood."

"There is already tremendous community spirit in the area and so over the coming years, we want to work with residents to help shape this vision for Ladywood and ensure that everyone with a stake in the neighbourhood voices their ideas, concerns and suggestions."

Residents at the heart of it

The council says community consultation will be the main consideration for the regeneration, and will be a pivotal part of any successful bid from a developer. Initial talks have already taken place with local councillors, and a ward forum will be held on 19 February, where council officers will give residents and business owners more information and hear their ideas.

Waheed Nazir, the council's corporate director for economy, said the plan had been a long-standing ambition. "It has always been our intention, since we launched the Big City Plan in 2010, to bring forward a housing led regeneration initiative for the Ladywood area," he said.

"With Birmingham now enjoying a significant renaissance there is an opportunity to secure a partner who shares our ambition to deliver more family housing and create a high-quality sustainable place for current and future residents. We will be launching a procurement process to find a partner shortly."

A long process

The council has stressed that appointing a partner is only the first step in a process that will take several years.

Ladywood is one of Birmingham's best-known inner-city districts. Much of it was rebuilt after the Second World War, when older terraced streets were cleared and replaced with tower blocks and low-rise estates. For residents, the regeneration raises both hopes of better homes and concerns about how the changes will affect existing communities, and the consultation will be the first chance to have their say.