750 homes tipped for sale by Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council has been recommended to approve plans for nearly 1,000 homes on its Perry Barr residential scheme, as part of the scheme’s disposal strategy.
It proposes to sell three plots of land comprising 755 apartments, most of which would be ready to be occupied as well as retain another plot with 213 homes for social housing.
The council has been set the challenge by commissioners to dispose of £750m worth of assets from its £2.4bn investment property portfolio, to pay back £1.255bn in Exceptional Financial Support (EFS).
The former Birmingham City University campus site was initially earmarked for the 6,500 athletes and officials set to arrive in Birmingham in the summer of 2022 for the Commonwealth Games, but plans were scrapped as the village was not going to be ready in time.
Instead, athletes and officials were housed in three ‘campus’ villages at The University of Birmingham, The University of Warwick and The NEC Hotel Campus, rather than the single site ‘Athletes Village’ in Perry Barr.
1,146 homes, 268 extra care apartments, as well as commercial space and public realm, formed legacy plans approved in 2018, as part of a £700m regeneration project into Perry Barr by Birmingham City Council.
Cllr Sharon Thompson, deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills, said: “It’s great to see the progress that has been made to improve Perry Barr. It’s becoming a place where people are proud to live in and a destination of choice for visitors or for those wishing to relocate.
“The investment has brought massive benefits locally with upgraded public transport links, the stunning redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium and, of course, a significant number of homes that are now ready for occupation.”
Cllr Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, added: “The country is in the grip of a severe national housing crisis, one that means demand for accommodation in Birmingham has never been higher.
“The council has successfully managed to attract investment to deliver 968 new homes in Perry Barr, in north-west Birmingham. Subject to Cabinet approval, a proportion of these will be available for council housing.
“The decision to keep one of these plots to be used as council homes has been made after a detailed analysis of all possible options.
“It will boost the supply of homes for people in the city who are most in need, at a time when the number of people on the housing register has never been higher.”
