Council leader questioned over Birmingham regeneration scheme ‘transparency’
The leader of Birmingham City Council has faced questions over the “transparency” of a major regeneration project.
The Labour-run authority’s scheme would drastically change the Druids Heath area and bring around 3,500 new homes to the estate.
New infrastructure, transport links and green spaces have been promised while commercial and community spaces would also be revitalised through the project.
But concerns have been raised in the past over the impact on the community and fears existing residents would be priced out of the area.
The council confirmed this month it had identified a preferred developer for the scheme – a step which is set to pave the way for the regeneration project to start.
The developer was not named in a report due to procurement rules.
Druids Heath councillor Julien Pritchard expressed frustration over the lack of detail and said residents were being ‘left in the dark’.
“This isn’t buying a computer system or some office furniture – this is people’s homes and communities,” the Green Party councillor said last week.
At a meeting today, Monday, September 16, Coun Pritchard asked council leader Coun John Cotton whether it was right the negotiations continued without the name of the preferred developer or details of the deal being shared with the community.
Coun Cotton said the authority had to follow statutory procurement rules, which included restrictions on the naming of the preferred developer.
“My understanding is that information will be shared with residents in January,” he added.
Coun Pritchard responded: “My question was does he think it’s right – not does he think it’s legal.”
He asked that council officers looked into whether the preferred developer could be named to ensure “transparency”.
“We can debate procurement rules but what is important is this council complies with the law,” Coun Cotton said.
He called the Druids Heath project “long-anticipated and needed by residents” and said there had been “excessive engagement” with members of the community, adding Coun Pritchard would be briefed in the future.
‘We understand residents’ concerns’
Earlier this year, Coun Jayne Francis, former cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said the regeneration of Druids Heath would “provide much-needed, new affordable homes”.
“For 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,” she said.
Coun Francis said she understood 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,” she said.
“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.”
A report from the council, published ahead of a cabinet meeting this month, said the procurement process to find a developer started in May.
“The procurement procedure has now completed and a preferred developer (Developer A) has been identified,” it said.
“The next stage of this procurement is to enter into detailed discussions with the preferred developer to finalise the contractual agreements to allow for the commencement of the scheme.”
The council said the award of the strategic partnership agreement for the delivery of the scheme could be approved by cabinet members in early 2026.
It said the authority was “now able to give the community more certainty and assurance that the project is beginning to take shape”.
Cabinet members also heard the procurement process was “thorough and intensive” before agreeing to authorise discussions to finalise the strategic partnership agreement.
