St Joseph, part of the Berkeley Group, has been formally appointed by Birmingham City Council as development partner for the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate in Birmingham.
The Partnership Development Agreement sets out requirements for the scheme, including the following:
- At least 70% of existing homes will either be refurbished or re-provided with new homes in a single move on the estate.
- Provides the opportunity to deliver significant new housing of all tenures to meet the desperate need for new homes in the city and wider area.
- Commitment for project to deliver at least 20% affordable homes.
- Seeks to minimise demolition and acquisition of private homes.
- Will provide new jobs and opportunities for local people including training and apprenticeships as well as full-time employment.
The renewal of the Ladywood Estate will see the development of new homes across the 146-acre site. The project will deliver new homes, improved and new open spaces, play areas and parks; new community facilities; better connected transport links, 1,000 apprenticeships and 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs. At least 20% of new homes delivered across the site will be affordable homes.
The regeneration of the Ladywood Estate is set to be a 20-year project, with work not due to start on site until at least 2028.
St Joseph will now start work to consult and collaborate with the local community, alongside Birmingham City Council, with a view to a masterplan for the site being created and a planning application submitted to the Council in 2026.
St Joseph has launched a new community website, www.ladywoodcommunity.co.uk to provide the latest news, events, and information on the project's progress.
Cllr Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills and Deputy Mayor of West Midlands, said:
“I want to reassure the community that this is the beginning of the master planning process, and all residents will be given the opportunity to be fully involved.
‘’The investment being made is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate to make it more sustainable, provide better facilities, better transport links, walking routes, and green spaces.
‘’As well as the refurbishment or re-provision of at least 70% of the existing homes on the estate, significant new homes will be built and at least 20% of these will be affordable homes. All Council homes on the estate will either be re-provided or refurbished.
"We will seek to minimise the demolition of homes and deliver the benefits of estate regeneration.
"The Partnership Agreement has been agreed later than planned to ensure we have secured the best deal for Ladywood and the City.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of West Midlands, said:
“Too many families are dealing with long waiting lists, and have no choice but to live in unsuitable, overcrowded and poorly regulated accommodation – that is why tackling our housing crisis is one of my key priorities.
“This regeneration scheme, in the heart of Birmingham, will not only deliver hundreds of new homes, but also see the existing council housing stock renewed and replaced giving local people a safe and warm place to call home.”
Stephen Kirwan, Managing Director of St Joseph Homes, said:
"Our St Joseph team is hugely proud and excited to be given this opportunity to work on the renewal of the Ladywood Estate in consultation with the local community and council. Now we have been appointed, our first priority is to begin to meet local people and to listen carefully to their concerns and aspirations for the future of their neighbourhood. This engagement process will help us to shape a masterplan that the community is proud of, and that will benefit local people for generations to come.
“At Berkeley Group we fully support the Government’s mission to increase housing delivery across the country and this hugely important regeneration project reflects our commitment to delivering good green homes where they are needed most.“