Cadbury Estate housing scheme faces delay unless social housing provision is made
PROPOSALS for a substantial new housing development in Birmingham look set for the go-ahead providing developers help fund a new children’s play area and better affordable housing provision.
Housing developer Crest Nicholson is proposing to build 138 new homes on land at Manor House, off Bristol Road South in Northfield.
The scheme would see the re-imagining of the former family seat of the Cadbury family.
The application site extends to 5.99ha and currently accommodates a number of existing buildings including two small dwellings, Rose Cottage and Windmill Cottage, which are in a current state of disrepair.
To the centre of the site stood the original Manor House, built in 1820, which was a home of George and Elizabeth Cadbury and their family until Elizabeth’s death in 1951. The Manor House and wider grounds were subsequently acquired by the University of Birmingham in 1952, whereupon a number of halls of residence buildings were constructed.
The University later facilitated the construction of the Wolfson Wing and subsequently in the 1990’s it constructed the Joyce Cadbury Wing. The use of the site as student accommodation ceased in 2007.
The original home, Manor House, was destroyed by fire in 2014 and, due to structural and safety concerns, was subsequently demolished.
Crest Nicholson is proposing to build a mix of 59 new-build apartments, 26 new-build apartments in the re-instatement of the original Manor House and 53 houses.
The mix of accommodation would be:
• 36 one-bedroom apartments,
• 47 two-bedroom apartments,
• 2 three-bedroom apartments,
• 6 two-bedroom houses,
• 17 three-bedroom houses,
• 21 four-bedroom houses; and
• 9 five-bedroom houses.
Planning officers said they were satisfied by the principle of development but wanted better social housing provision.
They have recommended today’s planning committee to defer the application pending agreement on the social housing provision, which would include four one-bedroom flats; 11 two-bedroom flats; 3 two-bedroom houses and 2 three-bedroom houses with tenure being open to offers from Registered Social Landlords (RSL).
The council is also asking for an off-site index-linked financial contribution of £50,000 towards the provision of affordable housing within the Northfield council ward and adjoining wards.
The council is also asking for a financial contribution of £95,000 towards the provision and improvement of a junior play area in Manor Farm Park.
Residents living near the site have criticised the scheme on grounds of access – saying more than one road in and out of the site is required, loss of amenity, the density of the development and have raised concerns about the pressure it will place on local schools provision.
