Category: Unanswered questions
-
“What regeneration priorities should the policy focus on?” – suggestions for the ongoing Local plan consultation
The Local Plan, which sets out the city’s priorities, objectives, and long-term vision, is currently open for consultation until 4 December. The full link to the consultation is: https://consult.birmingham.gov.uk/kpse/event/2889040D-72A3-4F9E-8CAB-7F26AE856C34 The Local Plan includes a section on the regeneration of Ladywood. Here are some suggested thoughts for Question 15, regarding Ladywood: “What regeneration priorities should the…
-
When Inclusion Excludes: Ladywood Resident Experiences and What They Teach Us About Equality
A disregard for equality and diversity has been a constant feature of the Ladywood regeneration. Continuous threats to turn religious buildings into non-religious ones, insufficient support for older and disabled people, a lack of thorough assessment of how Black communities will be affected, and the unavailability of translated materials about the regeneration for non-native English…
-
Unanswered questions at the Scrutiny meeting
On September 11, the Ladywood Regeneration was discussed at the Homes Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The answers given to councillors’ questions raised further concerns about the regeneration. The context “A report without context is very difficult to understand,” the Chair of the committee noted at the beginning of the meeting. The report submitted to the…
-
(Mis)Understanding Ladywood: Concerns about the feedback reports
In August, the Berkeley Homes team shared a report following their ‘Understanding Ladywood’ workshops held over the summer. These workshops were presented as providing an “opportunity for residents to meet the project team and help shape the early direction of the masterplan”. The report raises significant questions about what lies ahead for Ladywood residents. Displacement…
-
The charter and other unanswered questions
The signing of the Development Agreement between Birmingham City Council (BCC) and St Joseph/Berkeley Homes, formally announced on April 30, marks a new chapter in the Ladywood regeneration. The commitments made—including delivering 20% affordable housing, minimising demolition, establishing a Steering Committee, appointing an independent advisor, and holding further consultation before finalising the Residents’ Charter—were presented…
-
A blank canvas?
We have been promised by the council that after the development agreement is signed with St Joseph – Berkeley Group, the masterplanning process will start from a ‘blank canvas’ – meaning that no demolition is planned yet, no Compulsory Purchase Orders have been decided upon, and that no one yet knows who will have to…
-
The actual response to our attempted escalation to the Commissioners
We escalated via a letter to the commissioners highlighting our concerns with the Ladywood Regeneration in its current form… only to find that it went all the way back down the chain to the head of regeneration….(see previous posts for the chain.. ) This post records the response from the head and our counter response…
-
Questions for the council: optimism bias and financial risks
The regeneration of Perry Barr cost the council £325 million, in addition to £171 million in government grants. At the beginning of August, the council agreed to sell 755 homes to a private developer. However, the amount received won’t be enough to cover the entire cost of the project, with the council still expected to…
-
Questions for the council: when the future depends on the meaning of “viability”
Just over a year ago, Birmingham City Council (BCC) voted to award the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate to St Joseph, a subsidiary of the Berkeley group. For many residents, the news came as a shock. Since then, the future of the neighbourhood has remained uncertain, and the lives of residents precarious. What does the…
-
Questions for the council: Not much about equality
We have serious concerns about the quality of the Equality Analysis in the 2023 Cabinet Report. The 2010 Equality Act, section 149, 1(b) states that: “1. A public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to: b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected…
Ladywood Unite 