Nechells Ward

Nechells Ward is located south and east of the city centre. It is a inner-city area, which includes part of the city centre, Digbeth, Millennium Point, Eastside, Star City. The ward has district neighbourhoods separated by railway lines, arterial roads, or commercial areas. Nechells Ward is located within the Ladywood Consituency

• According to the 2001 Population Census there were 27,390 people resident in Nechells.
• The area is 9.1 square KM in size, with a population density of 3,015 people per square KM, this compares with 3,649 people per square KM for Birmingham.
• 29.4% of people were aged under 16, 59.5% were aged between 16 and 59, while 11.1% were aged over 60. The average age was 28.5, compared with 36 years for Birmingham.
• The minority ethnic population made up 62.6% (17,142) of the ward population, compared with 29.6% for Birmingham.
• 42.2% of households were owner occupied and 45.1% were rented from either the local authority, housing association or other registered social landlord. The remaining 12.7% of households rented privately or lived rent free.
• The Census found that 8,282 (44.9%) of the population aged 16 to 74 were working or seeking work, this compared with 60.4% for Birmingham.

Source: 2001 Census, Crown Copyright/BCC

Nechells Ward (South) Neighbourhood

The Nechells Ward (South) Neighbourhood has both high deprivation and active local engagement to tackle the resulting difficulties.

Bounded by major roads (Highgate Middleway, Small Heath Highway, Coventry Road/Cattell Road, Digbeth High Street). The area consists of pockets of dense residential areas interspersed with commercial and entertainment centres that are all economically vulnerable.

The Neighbourhood falls into 3 main areas:-

• Digbeth is an old industrial and commercial centre beginning to enjoy the creep of urban living opportunities out from the City Centre, but also suffers anti-social behaviour and public place violence spilling out from the clubs and pubs.
• Highgate is an area of 70s built social housing that has benefited from a range of regeneration initiatives, but has low economic inactivity and high benefit dependency.
• Small Heath is an area of terraced Victorian properties in mixed ownership plus some infill new build. It has a significant number of young people and members of emerging communities.

Regeneration In Nechells Ward.

Regeneration Activity

The Eastside initiative, based on the themes of learning, technology and heritage, brings together public and private sector agencies to regenerate and develop an area of 170 hectors ( 420 acres ) to the east of the city centre.

The project will prepare the city for the future through sustained investment, economic development and cultural growth. Fundamental to the successof the intiative is the creation of employement opputunity for local people.

Eastside's achievment

In the last year the Eastside intiative has secured cabinet approval for the funding and deliverly of the eastside strategy upto 2010.

Proposals for the city park are being developed with local residents and schools taking part in the city park symposium at millennium point to shape the project in its early stages. Plans for library of Birmingham are under consideration.

Relocation of Mathew boulton college, successfully completed. Plans for the upgrading of facilities and amentties at moor street station were announced.

Plans for the Future

The team works with representative from the city councils transport strategy, planning and highways services to help bring forward developments. The new bus mall along moor street Queensway lies at the heart of the development opportunities for new projects like martineau galleries and masshouse.

The Eastside intiative also has plans for the learning and leisure quarter, and mixed-use technology park around milleniuum point. During 2005/06 the eastside team invited designs for the new city park. Mathew Boulton College opened its doors in the summer of 2006, with the technology institute.

Related links

Ladywood Constituency
Councillors Advice Bureaux - Nechells Ward
Transport Information

Attachments