Meeting notes – Joe Holyoak, Colette McCann, Nick Matthews, 23 May 2024

Brief notes on the online meeting to discuss the Ladywood regeneration project, 23.05.24.

Present:          Joe Holyoak, Colette McCann, Nick Matthews.

Colette McCann added two paragraphs in clarification to my notes, which I have added verbatim to the text in red italics. JH

• JH had previously written a briefing paper for the meeting, outlining his views on housing figures, densities, etc, and the appropriate way for the project to proceed.
• JH outlined his Ladywood history: Ladywood Regeneration Framework 1990-95. A successful partnership between BCC and residents, it spent £35m (£80m in today’s money) on improving council housing. But its positive lessons appeared to have been forgotten.
• CMcC outlined progress on the Ladywood regeneration so far. Unsatisfactory previously, but recently improving. Agreed that the target figure of 7531 dwellings contained in the 2023 Cabinet paper was inappropriate and should be ignored.
• Joe my point re the 7531 dwellings was not that the number is inappropriate per se rather that this comes from Berkeleys bid submission as part of the procurement process and that we need to engage and develop a masterplan with the community which will inform/determine the number and type of new homes.
• JH explained that he considered that the BCC process so far was back to front. It is wrong to start with a projected figure for housing numbers: instead, start with an agreed vision for the kind of place you want Ladywood to become. (The 1950s planners started with a vision, but unfortunately it was an inappropriate and untested one).
• CMcC agreed that housing target figures and the consequent residential densities were not the right place to start the planning process from. She agreed that residential density should be an outcome of the planning process, not a determinant of it.
• I did also make the point however that the location and characteristics etc of the site are part of what determines the design and therefore density and would not want to set a narrow scope ahead of masterplanning which might limit the potential to deliver the best outcomes across a mixed site.
• CMcC stated that there would be a 12 month programme to produce an agreed masterplan, starting with the appointment of Berkeley Homes, probably around September 2024. She confirmed the BCC commitment to the Eight Principles, and to the Powered by People policy.
• JH emphasised that Ladyood regeneration presented a great opportunity for Birmingham to do something outstanding: to make a new inner-city neighbourhood the kind of which does not exist. But it could only happen if residents are fully included and engaged in the masterplanning and decision-making processes.
• CMcC and NM agreed with this, and stated that resources would be made available to residents in order for them to be fully involved in the planning processes.
• JH noted that consultation was not an appropriate word to use to describe the involvement of residents. He referred to Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation, in which Consultation is only the fourth rung of eight. Participation or partnership is a more appropriate term.
• JH noted that a major key to the success of the 1990s partnership was the use of the Planning for Real technique of decision-taking, and recommended its use.
• CMcC invited JH to meet with Berkeley Homes later in 2024 when they are appointed by BCC. JH thanked her and agreed.

Joe Holyoak

Amended 05.06.24