{"id":633515,"date":"2025-12-15T08:10:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T08:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/633515\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T08:10:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T08:10:22","slug":"birmingham-churchs-car-park-plans-spark-concerns-amid-relocation-of-gravestones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/633515\/","title":{"rendered":"Birmingham church’s car park plans spark concerns amid ‘relocation of gravestones’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Birmingham Council report said objections raised concerns over the impact on ‘historic graves’<\/p>\n

Alexander Brock<\/strong> Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n

07:00, 15 Dec 2025<\/p>\n

\"StSt Michael’s Church in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham(Image: Google Maps)<\/p>\n

A Birmingham church\u2019s plans for a new car park have sparked concerns amid the planned \u2018relocation of gravestones\u2019.<\/p>\n

St Michael\u2019s Church in Boldmere<\/a> is seeking permission to create a new car park and vehicular access, which would reduce pressure on surrounding streets and improve accessibility.<\/p>\n

But the proposals have been met by 32 objections, with some raising concerns over the impact on \u2018historic graves\u2019.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Demand issued to Black Sabbath pub owners amid council investigation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The city council<\/a> acknowledges in a report that the plans would require \u201crelocating a number of gravestones within the wider graveyard and churchyard\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe car park is to be constructed using a proprietary no-dig grid system to avoid disturbing graves,\u201d a council officer wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral objections have been received, raising concerns that graves and gravestones in the proposed area would be affected or relocated.\u201d<\/p>\n

They continued that efforts were made to trace descendants of the graves and gravestones that would be affected but were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, they have confirmed that the chosen location for the car park and vehicular access will have minimal impact on graves and gravestones,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe proposed development for St Michael’s Church<\/p>\n

The report went on to say that the Archdeacon of Aston, on behalf of the Church of England, has provided written support, confirming that the proposal is in full compliance with Church of England procedures.<\/p>\n

These include strict guidelines and codes of practice to respect graves and memorials.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn light of the site\u2019s lack of heritage and archaeological designation and considering the operational needs and long-term viability of the church, the impact on graves and gravestones is considered acceptable,\u201d it concluded.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially given these will be appropriately relocated within the same church ground within a nearby setting.\u201d<\/p>\n

On why the plans have been recommended for approval, the report said: \u201cThe proposed development seeks to deliver essential improvements to St Michael\u2019s Church.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong>City centre student flats block at Birmingham pub site back before planners<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

[These include] the creation of a car park and associated vehicular access, installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps, and accessibility enhancements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the scheme will [\u2026] require the sensitive relocation of gravestones, the site is not a designated heritage asset, lies outside a conservation area, and has no archaeological interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

It added that the proposals would improve parking pressures in nearby roads; enhance the \u2018long-term viability\u2019 of the church and bring biodiversity enhancements.<\/p>\n

The plans, which were recommended for approval subject to conditions, will be considered at a planning committee meeting next Thursday, December 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Birmingham Council report said objections raised concerns over the impact on ‘historic graves’ Alexander Brock Local Democracy…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":633516,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7820],"tags":[855,984,748,393,4884,7829,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-633515","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-birmingham","8":"tag-birmingham","9":"tag-birmingham-city-council","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-sutton-coldfield","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115722573626542318","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=633515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/633515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/633516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=633515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=633515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=633515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}