Druids Heath regeneration contract awarded to Lovell

Plans to build around 3,500 new homes in Druids Heath have taken a step forward after Birmingham City Council's cabinet approved awarding the estate redevelopment contract to developer Lovell.

The council and Lovell have started drafting a partnership agreement, which is expected to be signed in spring 2026. It will set out what each side must deliver, including the requirement that 51 per cent of the homes in the scheme will be affordable.

A new community

The regeneration is planned to create a sustainable community of around 3,500 homes, with green spaces, new infrastructure and transport links, and improved commercial and community buildings.

An outline planning application submitted last March includes homes designed for people in later life, new community and sports facilities, and a new high street intended to be the heart of the neighbourhood.

Residents' views

The council says it has worked with the community for more than two years, holding discussions with over 1,000 residents, and that 68 per cent of residents now support the scheme.

"As someone who grew up in Druids Heath, I know just how important it is to deliver a sustainable, greener, and more connected community for generations to come," said Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness.

She said she was delighted that Lovell had been awarded the contract to deliver "thousands of high-quality, energy-efficient homes - over half of which will be affordable", and acknowledged how strongly residents feel about the plans.

Stuart Penn, Regional Managing Director at Lovell, said the partnership agreement would let the company "look much further than new buildings", and that it was about creating genuine opportunity for local people and improving quality of life.

"We're looking forward to delivering a neighbourhood that works for everyone - not just the few," he said.

What happens next

Cabinet decisions in Birmingham can be "called in" for review by councillors before they take effect. This decision is open to call-in until 26 January; if no valid request is received by then, it will be implemented and work on the partnership agreement will continue.

Druids Heath, on the southern edge of the city near the border with Bromsgrove, is one of Birmingham's largest post-war council estates, known for its tower blocks. The regeneration is one of the council's biggest housing projects, and is expected to take around 20 years to complete.

The council says it will keep residents informed as the scheme moves towards a partnership agreement and a planning decision, and that existing tenants remain at the centre of the plans.