Regeneration of the Ladywood Estate moves into next phase

• Agreement confirms that at least 70% of existing homes will either be refurbished or re-provided with new homes in a single move on the estate.
• Provides the opportunity to deliver significant new housing of all tenures to meet the desperate need for new homes in the city and wider area.
• Commitment for project to deliver at least 20% affordable homes.
• Seeks to minimise demolition and acquisition of private homes.
• Will provide new jobs and opportunities for local people including training and apprenticeships as well as full-time jobs.
• The design of the masterplan with the local community will begin immediately.

The regeneration of the Ladywood Estate is a 20-year project, with work not due to start on site until at least 2028.

The project will ensure the estate, and its homes, are fit for the future with improved energy efficiency and green spaces.

It will also deliver significant new additional homes of all tenures, new community facilities; better connected transport links, 1,000 apprenticeships and 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

The next stage of the project is to work with the community aiming to minimise demolition and disruption, provide greater certainty and deliver the benefits of estate regeneration. A fundamental part of this is St Joseph’s agreement to the principles of Powered By People, the Council’s Vision and Approach to Engagement, the formation of a Residents Steering Group and publication of the Resident & Community Charter, which is a written commitment on how the Council will work with the Community throughout the life of the Project.

As part of the commitment set within the Charter, a series of community information sessions where both Birmingham City Council and St Joseph will be present are due to take place in June. These sessions will give residents the opportunity to meet the developer and help begin to shape the future of the estate. The Council and St Joseph will also be meeting with faith groups, local schools and other organisations.

As a partnership, Birmingham City Council retains overall responsibility for resident services, provision and housing. As the developer, St Joseph will work with the community to design, and be responsible for the building of homes, public spaces and infrastructure.

St Joseph has launched a new community website, www.ladywoodcommunity.co.uk to provide the latest news, events, and information on the project's progress. Residents can also get in touch by email at ladywoodcommunity@stjosephhomes.co.uk and telephone on 0800 368 7592. Both will be staffed Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm for any queries.

Members of the St Joseph team will soon be located onsite in Ladywood, so that local people can meet those working on the project, ask questions and shape plans.

The Council has been in touch with residents to update them on the next phase and St Joseph will be in contact with further information about its upcoming community sessions. For more information on how to get involved in shaping plans for the area and updates on future events, please visit www.ladywoodcommunity.co.uk.

Cllr Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills and Deputy Mayor of West Midlands, said: 

“I want to reassure the community that this is the beginning of the master planning process, and all residents will be given the opportunity to be fully involved.

‘’The investment being made is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate to make it more sustainable, provide better facilities, better transport links, walking routes, and green spaces.

‘’As well as the refurbishment or re-provision of at least 70% of the existing homes on the estate, significant new homes will be built and at least 20% of these will be affordable homes. All Council homes on the estate will either be re-provided or refurbished.

"We will seek to minimise the demolition of homes and deliver the benefits of estate regeneration.

"The partnership agreement has been agreed later than planned to ensure we have secured the best deal for Ladywood and the City.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of West Midlands, said:

“Too many families are dealing with long waiting lists, and have no choice but to live in unsuitable, overcrowded and poorly regulated accommodation – that is why tackling our housing crisis is one of my key priorities.

“This regeneration scheme, in the heart of Birmingham, will not only deliver hundreds of new homes, but also see the existing council housing stock renewed and replaced giving local people a safe and warm place to call home.”

Stephen Kirwan, Managing Director of St Joseph Homes, said:

"Our St Joseph team is hugely proud and excited to be given this opportunity to work on the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate in consultation with the local community and council. Now we have been appointed, our first priority is to begin to meet local people and to listen carefully to their concerns and aspirations for the future of their neighbourhood. This engagement process will help us to shape a masterplan that the community is proud of, and that will benefit local people for generations to come.

“At Berkeley Group we fully support the Government’s mission to increase housing delivery across the country and this hugely important regeneration project reflects our commitment to delivering good green homes where they are needed most.“