Warning as old council homes to go

THE demolition of dozens of homes in Kings Norton is imminent, prompting a warning to the council not to replace them with properties that will only last 50 years.

Birmingham City Council’s planning committee consigned a mixture of 36 houses, flats and maisonettes to the bulldozer last week as part of a wider regeneration of the area.

Officers have been relocating residents since last year.

Four blocks in Bentmead Grove are also earmarked for demolition but work has been halted to study if any bats are present.

But the council has been urged to think carefully about the types of homes which will be built in place of the obsolete properties.

Councillor Gareth Moore, who is on the committee, said: “I fully support this application. This is an estate which needs regeneration.

“I welcome the demolition of these buildings to support that but this shows why we have to be careful when we build the new phase of housing, because actually a lot of what we built in the 50s and 60s is what we are clearing away now, because it wasn’t up to scratch and it didn’t meet the requirements.

“It was cool and trendy at the time and everybody thought that’s how everyone is going to live but it proved to be rather unpopular and that’s why we are clearing it.

He added: “Look at what was built previously. A lot of that is being retained.

“Kingstanding, for example, a large working-class estate built in the 30s – a lot of that housing is being retained and continues to be in use. It’s important when developments come forward for new estates we ensure they are built for the future and not just last 50 years to be demolished and rebuilt.”