Option L1
Original Document
Ladywood renewed. The area would be comprehensively redeveloped to create a medium density residential urban neighbourhood fully supported by local amenities of exemplary standard. The area would be developed with higher quality homes, better streets and spaces and a greater variety of local amenities and a more even balance between privately owned, shared-ownership and council rented homes. There would be apartments around key focal points like the local high street or square, and a range of other homes elsewhere including family dwellings, retirement homes and special needs housing. The quarter would have an improved range of community facilities, schools, local shopping, working opportunities and green spaces. New linkages through the area would be developed to connect Ladywood with surrounding areas, particularly Icknield Port Loop and Westside.
Plain English Translation
Ladywood renewed.
This option would see major change in Ladywood to create a place which has more people living in it who enjoy the very best homes, streets, public spaces, shops and facilities.
There will be a more even balance between privately owned, shared-ownership and council rented homes. There would be apartments around key focal points like the local high street or square, and a range of other homes elsewhere. These would include family houses, retirement homes and homes for people who have particular needs. Ladywood would also see a better range of schools, shopping, work and green spaces. The whole neighbourhood will be easier to get into and out of, with good links to Icknield Port Loop and what we call the Westside area.
I disagree with your balancing proposals.
I personally invested over £200,000 in a new apartment here to have a secure and sophisticated environment.
I don't want to live next door to people who have not done the same and rely on invading peoples apartment sites to steal goods from apartments and “secured” site car parks.
What you are proposing will return Ladywood to what it used to be – the poorest borough in the UK with the highest Insurance loading for property and car insurance.
The Sheepcote Street area needs a balancing element with the current Broad Street young peoples enjoyment site.
The NIA end needs artisan shops and interests for more mature and discerning tastes. When I moved into King Edwards Wharf apartments in 2002, the Fiddle and Bone pub provided nightly jazz. That lasted less than a year and the premises have remained empty since.
The old pub premises and the listed Roundhoused would provide a super faciltiy for craft shops, artisan buthchers, bakers, cafes, and other such traders, and being on the canal dside could become a real characterful location and attraction for visitirs to Birmingham especially thios attending conferences in the nearby and highly succesful ICC.
All this gets away from the high street sameness of central Birmingham.
This is a super asset to Birmingham and needs development URGENTLY before the squatters move in or the buildings crumble.