MP ‘concerned’ council failing residents affected by Ladywood regeneration

Exclusive: Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood has spoken to the LDRS about Birmingham City Council's controversial plan for widescale demolition in the district

Harry Leach - Local Democracy Reporter | Wednesday 25th October 2023 8:18am

Ladywood residents whose homes are set to be demolished under controversial regeneration plans are not being offered meaningful consultation, the local MP fears. Shabana Mahmood said she’s “very concerned” about how Birmingham City Council has rolled out engagement workshops in the district.

The sessions are being held for homeowners, tenants and businesses whose homes and work places look set to be torn down. But, despite the council knowing thousands are affected by the £2.2billion regeneration plan, venues have been massively over-subscribed.

Ms Mahmood recently surveyed her constituents to find out how they felt about the council’s engagement and overall plans to transform the area. Speaking exclusively to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said 80 per cent of the 254 people asked felt the authority’s engagement was ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’.

However many also acknowledged the area “needs regeneration” and “improvement in existing housing stock”, said the MP who was previously criticised by Ladywood campaigners for not engaging enough with affected residents. Ms Mahmood added: “The majority of respondents felt negatively about the regeneration plan – with many citing a desire to stay where they are, or concerns about losing value on their homes.

“I’m very concerned to learn that the council still doesn’t have meaningful engagement in place – despite numerous calls from the community to do more. Workshops started this month, but they’re not offering enough opportunity for residents to have their say.

“They tell me that workshops are over-subscribed and some of those who attend are made to stand.” In an open letter to council leader John Cotton, Ms Mahmood reiterated that her support for regeneration plans are “conditional” and that residents who want to stay in Ladywood must be “allowed to stay”.

It comes after the MP previously issued her ‘red lines’ over the project which included a promise that community facilities would be at “the heart of the plan”. In the letter, she wrote: “Overwhelmingly, 65 per cent [of those surveyed] supported my red lines on regeneration.

“My support is conditional and based on a full and transparent consultation process that residents who want to stay in Ladywood, are allowed to stay, and a promise that community facilities are at the heart of the project.

“Since my last letter, I’m pleased to see confirmation that residents living within the existing council homes will be relocated in a single decant strategy so that any upheaval is kept to a minimum. I also appreciate the commitment that any council or housing association tenant, whose home is scheduled for demolition, will have a chance to move into one of the newly-built properties in line with the ‘BCC Option to Return Scheme’.”

Ms Mahmood added: “I will not stop fighting for residents who have laid down roots and made Ladywood their home. I will continue to speak up for my community.”

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