Council promises to provide for existing council tenants on estate and ensure homeowners are not priced out of the area
Birmingham City Council (BCC) has granted outline planning permission for its 3,500-home Druids Heath regeneration scheme.
Of the new homes, 51% (1,785) will be affordable, including 400 for social rent. The remaining affordable homes will be delivered through a partnership agreement with the developer partner and Homes England.
The application also proposes the development of properties for sale and later living homes, as well as new community and sports facilities and a high street to “serve as the central hub of the community”.
The news comes after the council chose Lovell as the scheme’s preferred developer last month.
The council and Lovell are currently working on a partnership agreement to set out the obligations between the developer and local authority, which is expected to be agreed upon and signed in Spring 2026.
This will be the final step before work on the regeneration can start.
The scheme has been subject to controversy. Many residents commented that the timescales for the plan were too long and expressed concern about being priced out of the area during the public consultation period.
Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness at BCC, said: “All of the existing council tenants on the estate and those who have already decanted will be provided for. This promise also forms part of our legally binding agreement with the developer…
“The scheme will not go ahead without those remaining affordable homes being delivered through the partnership agreement. The result will be a net increase in affordable homes in Druids Heath, there is no loss.”
Brennan said that the council has had discussions with more than 1,000 residents over the past two years, of which 68% supported the scheme.
He added: “The council is committed to everyone in Druids Heath being able to stay on the estate who wants to stay.We have also promised to make sure existing homeowners aren’t priced out of the estate, a shared equity model and early acquisitions program will support this aspiration.”
BCC is aiming to build 51,100 new homes by 2031.
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