Preferred developer for Birmingham regeneration project named

Birmingham City Council’s plans would transform Druids Heath and provide around 3,500 new homes.

New infrastructure, transport links and green spaces have been proposed while the council said the project would ‘revitalise’ commercial and community spaces.

But fears emerged over the potential impact on the community and concerns existing residents would be priced out of the area.

The Labour-run 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, which sparked frustration from the Green Party’s Councillor Julien Pritchard, who represents the area.

But the council confirmed on Monday it had selected Lovell as its preferred developer for the scheme.

Lovell and the council have begun work on a partnership agreement, which is expected to be signed next spring.

The agreement will set out the obligations between the developer and the council to deliver the regeneration and was described as the “final step” before the project can start.

Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing, said the selection of the developer was a “landmark moment” for the residents of Druids Heath and Birmingham.

“It brings us another step closer to delivering on the plan to regenerate the area that we have spent two years working with the community to develop,” she said.

“The regeneration will not only deliver thousands of high-quality, energy-efficient homes, we are also committed to ensuring that more than half of them will be affordable, helping to meet the urgent housing needs of our residents.

“This regeneration is about building a sustainable, greener, and more connected community for generations to come.”

Stuart Penn, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “Lovell has been part of Birmingham’s story for more than 30 years, and our commitment to this city runs deep.

“Druids Heath represents the next chapter in that journey.

“And this is about more than bricks and mortar: it’s about creating opportunity, improving lives, and working in genuine partnership with Birmingham City Council and the community – leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.”

‘Long-anticipated and needed’

Council leader Councillor John Cotton called the project “long-anticipated and needed by residents” in a meeting this month, adding there had been “excessive engagement” with members of the community.

The authority said it was committed to building around 1,800 affordable homes as part of the scheme, representing 51 per cent of the homes on the development.

An outline planning application for the scheme was submitted in March and detailed how 400 homes would be built as affordable homes, which the council aims to deliver for social rent.

“The remaining affordable homes will be delivered through a partnership agreement with a developer and Registered Providers,” it said.

Earlier this year, Councillor Jayne Francis, the former cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said she understood residents’ worries 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 at the time.

“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.”