Birmingham City Council has hailed the £2.5bn Ladywood regeneration project as the city's "most significant housing development in a generation", bringing new homes, jobs, improved council housing, and community benefits.
The partnership between Birmingham City Council and Berkeley St Joseph, part of the Berkeley Group, is working closely with local residents to understand their needs and aspirations for the area. With ongoing consultation work in the community helping to inform a masterplan for the area, the partnership is now committed to building up to 12,000 new homes. The ambition to build this number of new homes will be tested through the masterplan process with the community and stakeholders.
Of the homes to be built, at least 20% will be affordable housing. The number of existing council homes on the estate will be maintained, and all will either be renewed or replaced.
The announcement comes as Birmingham prepares to host the inaugural Regional Investment Summit, a landmark event designed to spotlight the UK as a prime destination for global investment.
The new homes would support the council’s emerging Local Plan, a 17-year vision for the city that outlines how Birmingham can create much needed homes and contribute to wider government targets to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
Since the council and Berkeley St Joseph signed the Development Agreement in the spring, initial community engagement events to create a masterplan have been held. The partnership has also made further progress supporting the community:
- Local residents have been appointed to form an independent steering group, which will play a key role in communicating the community's views and feedback for the scheme.
- With the help of residents, an organisation to provide independent advice for those affected by the scheme has also been chosen.
- Planning Aid will support residents with specialist advice during the masterplanning process and future engagement.
- A Resident and Community Charter has also been produced with the help of the community; it outlines the council's commitments to residents affected by the regeneration.
Over the next few weeks, information on how the community can get involved in shaping the future of Ladywood and the next stages of engagement on the masterplan will be shared with the community.
The investment is expected to create up to 41,000 jobs, 1,000 apprenticeships, and a skills centre to support local employment and training.
The location of a potential kickstart site is also being explored, which will form part of the first phase of work.
Cllr Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Birmingham City Council, said: “The community in Ladywood have been very clear about the need for increased help and support, and I am pleased to see the progress being made to provide this.
“The investment set to be made into Ladywood will be transformational for the area and will provide the city with much-needed new, safer, warmer, more sustainable homes.
“It is truly a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the Ladywood Estate a better place to live with improved facilities, transport links, walking routes, and green spaces.
“Ladywood represents a bold vision for Birmingham’s future. This partnership is not just about building homes—it’s about building opportunity, community, and prosperity for generations to come.”
Rob Perrins, Chair, Berkeley Group, said: “This project is an incredible opportunity to transform living standards for the Ladywood community while delivering much-needed new homes, jobs and growth in the heart of Birmingham.
“This is one of Europe’s single biggest urban regeneration sites with the potential to deliver 10% of the city’s entire housing need up to 2044. Berkeley St Joseph is working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to secure the vital central government support we need to kickstart delivery.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of West Midlands, said: “The regeneration of Ladywood means thousands of extra homes for local people at a time when our region, like many others, is facing an acute housing shortage.
“But it will also see existing council homes brought up to modern standards. That means safe homes that will be cheaper to heat and improve the quality of life of families who live in them.
“Giving people in the West Midlands a secure, warm and affordable home is a key priority for me and it’s through major investments like this one, working closely with our partners and involving the residents themselves, that we will fix this housing crisis and improve thousands more lives.”