Birmingham City Council urged to ‘reach out to angry residents’

The major Druids Heath plans have been proved controversial, with the council saying they would provide thousands of new homes, new infrastructure, transport links and much more.

But concerns have also been raised over the project’s potential impact on the community, the levels of demolition and fears existing residents will be priced out of the area.

Amid this tension, residents threatened a legal challenge towards the end of last year, calling on the council to overturn last year’s decision to grant outline planning permission for the scheme.

The Labour-run council confirmed this week that it has requested the court quash the original planning decision following the challenge – a situation which could lead to delays.

Speaking at a meeting today, the cabinet member for housing Nicky Brennan said the council recognises that “challenges will arise […] whether relating to planning, rehousing or community infrastructure”.

“The council remains committed to pro-actively problem solving and to maintain focus on achieving lasting and positive change in an area that needs and deserves investment,” the Labour councillor said.

“Reaching this stage has involved significant engagement and scrutiny.

“The council understands that residents may feel anxious about the proposals involving such significant change and remains committed to strengthening relationships within the community.”

But councillor Lisa Trickett, chair of the homes scrutiny committee, said more could be done to engage with residents who had gone through a “torturous” period.

“There are number of scars that we are yet to reconcile,” she said. “For some people whose homes are owned on that estate, these are their forever homes.

“Do not be surprised that they’re angry, frustrated and upset and we need to be better at the way we respond to that.

“There is no good responding with logic, you have to actually reach out and relate to these people as individuals.”

A council officer acknowledged both the need to “rebuild trust” and the risk linked to the scheme.

“The risk now is that if for whatever reason the regeneration scheme wasn’t to go ahead, whether that’s relating to planning challenge or any other issue, [construction company] Lovell and us would incur the costs that we have put in,” she said “No greater costs at this time.

“We have made sure that financial risk is managed.”

Coun Brennan added: “Getting that engagement and rebuilding trust has to be one of our number one considerations.

“Druids Heath really deserves [this scheme], it’s what the community needs.

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“We have got 68 per cent of people agreeing with the proposals which is huge for a regeneration scheme.”

Cabinet members at the meeting agreed to award the estate redevelopment contract to Lovell Partnership Limited, a decision described as “significant milestone” for the project.

Council facing legal challenge

Central England Law Centre (CELC), representing Druids Heath local Alison Parr, has argued that the council failed to disclose the full Financial Viability Assessment when plans were approved.

This assessment was used to justify why the planning application only details around 11 percent affordable housing (400 out of 3,500 homes), despite the council saying it would deliver 51 per cent.

CEO of CELC Elayne Hill said: “This case demonstrates why transparency matters.

“Where key information is withheld, communities are denied the opportunity to understand and scrutinise what is being proposed properly.”

The council continues to insist that it is committed to making just over half of the future homes “affordable”.

It said this week however that it has requested the court quash the original planning decision following the challenge from a ‘small number of residents’, which means the scheme may have to go through the planning process once again.

“Should the planning application be quashed, the basis of the challenge will be addressed by making the Financial Viability Assessment for the scheme public,” a council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“We know the community is keen to see regeneration plans move forward, and we regret the delays that this challenge causes, particularly the demolition of cleared tower blocks, which cannot be achieved without planning consent.”

They continued that the Financial Viability Assessment contained commercially sensitive information that could not be released while the council were in a procurement process to identify their preferred partner.

The council spokesperson said this meant that it was not available to the planning committee when they made their original decision.

“The legal challenge sought to gain eight concessions from Birmingham City Council,” they went on to say. “Only one was accepted.

“For over two years, the council has worked with the community to create a plan for the regeneration of Druids Heath, holding discussions with more than 1,000 residents, of which 68 per cent support the scheme.

“The council’s commitment to delivery remains.

“The council will progress the scheme through the planning process as soon as feasibly possible dependent on the court’s decision, honouring its commitments to residents.”

They added: “The outcome of the legal challenge makes no change to the affordable housing proposed.

“Birmingham City Council and Lovell remain committed to delivering 51 per cent affordable housing on this scheme and will re-provide new homes for existing tenants.

“This forms part of the partnership agreement between the council and Lovell.”

October’s planning meeting also heard that the levels of demolition were necessary as “most homes in Druids Heath require millions of pounds in investment to bring them up to only minimum standards”.