Questions for the council: did you say masterplan?

Participants at the engagement workshops carried out in October and November 2023 were told that while “the red line”, or rather the Ladywood Regeneration Project Area (2023. Ladywood Maximum extent of land to be assembled. Appendix 3) will remain the same, whatever happens within the “red line” is up for negotiation and consultation.

Yet, the review of the cabinet documents give us concern about the extent to which a consultation of residents will be able to challenge existing commitments between BCC and the developer.

Firstly, residents’ representatives do not have a seat on the Ladywood Project Board. We demand BCC commit to amend this breakdown of democratic representation

Secondly,  we understand that a Visioning Document was prepared prior to the bidding process (2023 Full Business Case. Appendix 2: B1), yet without the consultation of residents.

Thirdly, the 2019 City Plan – Ladywood report invited bidders to develop their indicative Masterplan, as also described in the 2023 Cabinet Report (3.2.4), according to a range of “minimum requirements & schemes aspirations and considerations”, concerning the site layout and design, residential use of the area, green spaces and public realms, transport connectivity, smart technology, positive social, economic and environmental impact, the delivery of employment opportunities, viability and funding, the support of communities, timely delivery and long-term management of the area.

Fourthly, the 2023 Cabinet Report then stated that the “the Masterplan prepared by St Joseph Homes Limited (Berkley Homes Plc) will be the basis of consultation with the community once the contract has been awarded” (3.2.4) and that the Development Agreement has already set out “the design principles and considerations” that will govern the Master Plan (2023 Full Business Case. Appendix 2: B4) and identifies a list of deliverables. This includes a significantly low percentage of affordable housing.

We are concerned that residents’ consultation is already bounded by agreements and arrangements that have not been shared with the community of Ladywood.

We demand that the parts concerning the design of the Master Plan agreed in the Development Agreement be published.