Birmingham City Council has approved an outline planning application for the regeneration of Druids Heath.
The scheme will deliver around 3,500 new homes – 1,785 of which will be affordable – alongside green spaces, new infrastructure and transport links.
Four hundred homes will be built as social rented homes and the remaining affordable homes will be delivered through a partnership agreement with Lovell, which the council selected as preferred developer for the site last month, and Homes England.
The planning application also contains proposals for the development of homes for sale, later living homes a new community and sports facilities and a new high street.
The council and Lovell have begun work on a partnership agreement, which is expected to be agreed upon and signed in spring next year.
Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness at Birmingham City Council, said: “This scheme will deliver 51% affordable housing, amounting to nearly 1,800 homes, and I am committed to that. All of the existing council tenants on the estate and those who have already decanted will be provided for. We committed to this publicly and this is still our promise. This promise also forms part of our legally binding agreement with the developer.
“The planning decision today will deliver the first social rented homes, with the remainder to be delivered through the partnership agreement. Both these processes carry equal weight; 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.
“I recognise the passion and concerns that many people feel around this regeneration. However, the plan to regenerate Druids Heath is something we have been working with the community for more than two years. Discussions have been had with more than 1,000 residents of which 68% supported the scheme.”
Brennan 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 programme will support this aspiration.
“Now the planning application has been approved, work can progress to release additional funding from Homes England that will provide the social homes needed on the estate. All of the existing council tenants on the estate will be provided for.”
