Cadbury manor house to be rebuilt after blaze
PLANS to recreate a 19th century Birmingham manor house destroyed by fire are set to approved.
The Northfield Manor House, in Bristol Road South, was demolished after falling victim to an arson attack in 2014.
The building was formerly known as Manor Farm and was home to George and Elizabeth Cadbury of the famous chocolate-making family.
The University of Birmingham, which owns the property, and developer Crest Nicholson were under no obligation to restore the 1820-built house as it only had an advisory local historic listing – but it is now to be recreated as a block of 21 apartments at the centre of a development of 138 houses and flats.
The redevelopment would also mean the demolition of two smaller old buildings – a half-timber lodge and a 19th century workers’ cottage on the site to make way for the new housing. But according to a report to this week’s planning committee, the city council’s conservation officer considered it “ironic” that these were to be demolished and the already lost Manor House recreated.
The report notes that while the remaining old buildings were attractive, they were also in poor condition, had no legal protection and therefore demolition should be approved. The developer has agreed to pay £95,000 towards playground improvements at nearby Manor Farm Park and £50,000 towards affordable housing off-site as well as providing 20 affordable properties in the new estate.
The report highlighted concerns raised by the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust over the impact on a known badger sett, but the developer has agreed to seek a Natural England badger licence to relocate the colony to an artificial sett on nearby woodland.
The arson attack in summer 2014 left Northfield Manor House in ruins. Despite calls to restore the building, the university instead had what was left demolished on safety grounds sparking condemnation from conservationists.