Birmingham Council's Plan Sparks Outrage Over Druids Heath Estate Demolition
The decision by Birmingham council to approve the demolition of most homes in Druids Heath, a post-war housing estate on the southern edge of the city, has left residents reeling. The 1,800-home project aims to create higher-density housing with only 400 units designated as affordable, sparking outrage over what critics call a "gentrification" plan.
For Xylia Legonas, the news came as a shock. She had just refurbished her house after a fire and was nearing the end of paying off her mortgage when someone knocked on her door inquiring about the Druids Heath regeneration project. The first thought that ran through her mind was "Don't tell me you're going to knock my house down." When told that yes, her home would be demolished, Legonas felt overwhelmed, worried, and unsure of where she would go.
The council's plan has drawn criticism from residents who feel they haven't been consulted. Rita Patel, a 16-year resident of Druids Heath, expressed her concerns, stating, "Everyone says Druids Heath has been underinvested in and that's why this needs to happen. But who has underinvested? The council. The government. The people up there, not the people living here." She fears that the new housing will be unaffordable, pricing out long-term residents like herself.
Many in the community are concerned about the lack of transparency and communication from the council regarding the plans. Jayne Murray, lead artist at a Druids Heath arts center, highlighted the issue, saying, "Investment is a completely different thing to demolition. It is really extreme and harmful." She added that the plan's focus on building new houses rather than investing in the existing community is shortsighted.
Resident Corin Ennis echoed these concerns, stating, "With the best will in the world, £180k is not going to touch the sides of what these new houses are going to cost. We're not going to be able to really buy anything for that in Birmingham." He fears that he and other residents will have to move away due to unaffordable housing options.
The government's push to build rapidly and cut affordable housing targets has exacerbated concerns about the impact on long-term residents. Patel noted, "The attitude is: 'We just need to get this through.' And I'm guessing some of that comes from central government. Whatever happens in London, it filters down."
At the heart of people's concerns is what "affordable" really means when it comes to the new houses. Residents fear that the definition will prioritize developers' interests over those of long-term residents.
The question on everyone's mind is: "What are you building? Who are you building it for? And are you building communities or just building houses?"
The decision by Birmingham council to approve the demolition of most homes in Druids Heath, a post-war housing estate on the southern edge of the city, has left residents reeling. The 1,800-home project aims to create higher-density housing with only 400 units designated as affordable, sparking outrage over what critics call a "gentrification" plan.
For Xylia Legonas, the news came as a shock. She had just refurbished her house after a fire and was nearing the end of paying off her mortgage when someone knocked on her door inquiring about the Druids Heath regeneration project. The first thought that ran through her mind was "Don't tell me you're going to knock my house down." When told that yes, her home would be demolished, Legonas felt overwhelmed, worried, and unsure of where she would go.
The council's plan has drawn criticism from residents who feel they haven't been consulted. Rita Patel, a 16-year resident of Druids Heath, expressed her concerns, stating, "Everyone says Druids Heath has been underinvested in and that's why this needs to happen. But who has underinvested? The council. The government. The people up there, not the people living here." She fears that the new housing will be unaffordable, pricing out long-term residents like herself.
Many in the community are concerned about the lack of transparency and communication from the council regarding the plans. Jayne Murray, lead artist at a Druids Heath arts center, highlighted the issue, saying, "Investment is a completely different thing to demolition. It is really extreme and harmful." She added that the plan's focus on building new houses rather than investing in the existing community is shortsighted.
Resident Corin Ennis echoed these concerns, stating, "With the best will in the world, £180k is not going to touch the sides of what these new houses are going to cost. We're not going to be able to really buy anything for that in Birmingham." He fears that he and other residents will have to move away due to unaffordable housing options.
The government's push to build rapidly and cut affordable housing targets has exacerbated concerns about the impact on long-term residents. Patel noted, "The attitude is: 'We just need to get this through.' And I'm guessing some of that comes from central government. Whatever happens in London, it filters down."
At the heart of people's concerns is what "affordable" really means when it comes to the new houses. Residents fear that the definition will prioritize developers' interests over those of long-term residents.
The question on everyone's mind is: "What are you building? Who are you building it for? And are you building communities or just building houses?"
. I mean, they're not trying to get rid of us old-timers and everyone else who can't afford their new fancy homes 
. It's just that the plan is a bit...out of touch with reality 
. £180k just isn't going to cut it for most people in Birmingham 
.
, but I think we can all agree that gentrification is a big word and it's not always used kindly 
. It's like, let's work together to make these new homes affordable for everyone, not just the rich folks 
.
. We're a tight-knit bunch and we need each other 
. Let's hope that the council can find a way to make this plan work for everyone, not just the developers 
.
this whole thing feels so rushed and unfair... i mean, 1,800 homes get knocked down for a few hundred 'affordable' units 
that's not exactly a helping hand for the community. i can understand the need for more housing but can't we find ways to make it work without tearing up existing homes? 
corin ennis said it best, £180k ain't goin nowhere in birmingham 
anyway i guess this is just another example of gentrification wreaking havoc on our communities 
, the council needs to go back to the drawing board and really listen to the concerns of the residents 
. I mean, who gets to decide what's "affordable" anyway? The government? They're not even giving a clear answer on this 
. It's all just a big mess 
. We need some real investment in our communities, not just demolition and gentrification plans 
. The council needs to do better 
.
This is why I hate surprises when it comes to big decisions...
and rightfully so. it's not exactly "gentrification" but more like a straight-up displacement plan for low-income families 
. Like, what even is the plan here? You're gonna knock down all these homes and replace 'em with a bunch of new, unaffordable units 
. It's like they're trying to pricing out the people who've lived there for years 
. And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency from the council 
. The government's just trying to stimulate the economy and get people moving into new places 
. If that means some long-term residents have to move on, so be it 
.
. Get a grip, folks! 
.
it sounds like the government's push for rapid building is just going to hurt long-term residents who can't afford anything else 
I think she has a right to be concerned that the council is prioritizing new development over what the people living there actually need. 
It's all about making a quick buck, not building communities 
. Who's behind this plan and what's their stake in it? We need to know 
.
the council is basically saying they're gonna knock down all these homes and build new ones without even asking the people who live there if that's okay. #gentrification is such a harsh word, but it feels like that's what's happening here. #birmingham needs to prioritize its residents over profits from developers.