The heads of St Joseph, part of Berkeley Homes, spoke for the first time about their vision for Ladywood estate, saying they were here ‘for the long haul’
Guild Close, Ladywood – one of the streets set to be revamped in a £2.2 billion transformation(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Developers preparing to transform Ladywood in a project with an estimated worth of £2.2 billion have spoken for the first time of their ‘excitement’ at finally being able to work with the community to create a masterplan for the area, after a two year delay.
St Joseph, part of Berkeley Homes, have just signed a development agreement with Birmingham City Council to build thousands of new properties on the long-neglected estate and nearby streets, while retaining its high rise tower blocks and some of the existing homes.
In a first interview with BirminghamLive, the company’s senior officers said they were determined to ‘win the trust’ of residents who had felt let down and frustrated by a lengthy delay that had caused confusion and anxiety.
READ MORE: Ladywood residents urge £2.2 billion scheme developers ‘listen to us’ as landmark deal signed
“We are desperate to change that,” said Steve Kirwan, managing director of St Joseph. “This is a long term vision, over 20 years, and we are here for the long haul, working in partnership.”
He also pledged that the scheme would now be more focussed on ‘renewal’ than mass demolition.
Homes inside the ‘red line’ face uncertain future as Ladywood regeneration scheme begins(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)
The firm’s Ladywood development director Will Rimmell added: “We are committed to working closely with residents and to listen to their concerns and aspirations. That’s the first step.”
The company was first announced as preferred partner on the landmark scheme in 2023, with an outline vision unveiled that predicted the existing estate of around 2,000 mostly social homes would become a new estate of 7,531 mostly privately owned homes with new schools, community facilities, business and retail, parks and pathways.
Most of the area inside a ‘red line’ was earmarked for likely destruction and replacement, via mass compulsory purchase orders, triggering widespread anxiety.
Since then, as a result of protracted negotiations, the vision has changed significantly, said Mr Rimmell. Pressure from residents and the council for less demolition and more affordable housing had been channelled into the new agreement, he said.
He also proclaimed that ‘nothing has been decided’ about where and what will be built, with everything subject to ‘consultation’, with existing residents at the heart of the process.
The company plans to begin a dialogue with residents in person next month, when it launches a series of topic based workshops to be held in a local venue on the estate.
Ladywood estate, just a short hop to the city centre(Image: Birmingham Mail)
“We have a real, genuine aspiration and capability to speak to all residents. We want to hear first hand people’s comments, concerns and aspirations, and talk about the opportunities this will bring,” said Mr Rimmell.
Anyone with urgent concerns about house buying or selling on the estate, or any other pressing issues, was urged to get in touch as part of the listening exercise. “We owe it to residents to listen to any concerns and have those conversations,” he said.
Representatives from St Joseph, the council and experts in architecture and urban landscape will be present at the workshops, which would also begin to consider what public spaces and community facilities were required to help form ‘the masterplan’, with the intention to submit a full planning application next year.
Mr Rimmell acknowledged there had been fraught communications over the past two years around whether St Joseph had already created a ‘masterplan’ for the estate, including artists’ impressions and maps. A series of Freedom of Information requests from residents and BirminghamLive were rejected by the council on the grounds that a masterplan ‘did not exist’, before it later confirmed that some outline plans had been created but they refused to share them.
READ MORE: Green light for £2 billion Ladywood regeneration after two year delay
Mr Rimmell confirmed that St Joseph’s bid for the project had included an outline vision with costings and drawings, though said it would be wrong to describe it as a masterplan. It would remain confidential because the project had moved on so much since and could be misleading, he added.
“The vision has shifted, partly because the city council was seeking to get the best possible deal for the people of the community in terms of affordable housing and a build first approach. There’s now a commitment to at least 70% of the existing social homes being refurbished or re-provided, so if tenants have to be moved out we would only do so when a new home is ready for them.”
He added: “That has unfortunately not happened elsewhere.”
The company also intended to inform residents as quickly as possible once it was clear which homes or areas required demolition, and which did not. “We need to get to that position as quickly as we can, because that puts people’s minds at ease…but we need to have conversations and engage with people to hear from them first,” said Mr Rimmell.
Steve Kirwan, managing director of St Joseph.
“This is a 20-year project and what we envisage is that the whole of the area inside ‘the red line’ will be a fantastic place, a place where everyone in it wants to live, work and call home.
“Following our experience in other large scale schemes within our businesses, the future Ladywood will be a place that the existing and the future community can be proud of, with homes, schools, fantastic open spaces, public amenities, everything that goes with creating and it being a community.
“Along the way we are committed to creating jobs, apprenticeships and opportunities that are all part of the benefit of a project of this size and nature.”
A letter and email direct to every resident, business and organisation inside the regeneration area went out this week, while a new website at www.ladywood community.co.uk and email address and phoneline dedicated to interactions about the scheme are now live.