Plans of a multi-billion gentrification scheme (via a partnership between St Joseph (Berkeley Group) and Birmingham city council) for Ladywood came as a shock to the thousands of residents that learned this from the local newspaper and not our local representatives. A grave error has been made on behalf of the council for not consulting with the residents (the very people who will be affected) and being transparent from the beginning about what their intentions are for the future of Ladywood. The plans include the demolition of the 2000+ homes in Ladywood and replacing them with 7000 new homes.

Instead, we have been drip-fed cautiously worded information through leaflets (which most Ladywood residents do not recall receiving in the first place) that glazed over the important details of how the Ladywood residents at the heart of this will be impacted.

How will Ladywood residents be affected?

• Council and housing association tenants will be rehoused in "one move"
• Homeowners will be forced to sell their house under a "compulsory Purchase Order"
• Unspecified fate for private home renters
• Unspecified fate for local businesses 
• Risk of residents being pushed out of Ladywood
• Many questions and concerns have been unanswered 

The meeting on 20th July 2023 at the Ladywood community centre highlighted the deep-rooted, diverse, and tight-knit community the residents have built and why Ladywood matters. Ladywood is home to residents who have lived for decades and built family homes that are generational. The meeting which started with a one-hour presentation (i.e monologues rather than again an opportunity to converse with the residents) from the developers followed by a one-hour Q&A session which was a disappointment to many of the attendees as people left with more questions than answers.

Answer Our Questions:

• You said you communicated with us through your vague leaflets on June 2019, August 2019, October 2019, December 2019, Christmas 2019/New Year 2020. So what has been going on in the three-year interim before you announced to us on June 2023 the demolition would occur? Why have we had no communication, consultation, or consideration? Did you have no meetings or updates on the redevelopment plans between 2020 and 2023?
• A figure of 16.8% has been given regarding the proportion of affordable homes which equates to 1176 new homes being built. During the meeting we were told there would be a 1:1 replacement of homes - does this mean some of the homes will be outside of Ladywood since there are currently 2000+ homes in Ladywood?
• Will the "affordable homes" be of the same design, standard, quality and finish as the non-affordable homes being built?
• What will the price range be for the affordable homes being built?
• What is the proportion of 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom, 4 bedroom, 5+ bedroom homes as part of the affordable homes?
• During the meeting, we were told that homes will be built before we are rehoused, does this mean that the current Ladywood community will be segregated from the rest of the homes being built - should we be concerned that this will create a social divide?
• During the meeting, we were told that residents will get a choice of where they would like to be housed, for those that would like to stay in Ladywood will they be guaranteed a new home in Ladywood? 
• For those that have lived in a council home for several years, will these years count towards the right to buy in the homes we will be relocated to?
• Many people have spent thousands making their homes nicer to live in with the addition of the cost of living crisis, the cost of moving, and the distress caused by these plans, will the residents be recompensated and if so what will the sum likely be?

Sign the petition to ensure our voices are heard.