Plain English Version
This report suggests a number of choices for the ‘City Core’ central area and each of the districts. We recommend that the main areas for change are:
- the opening up of the Southside area south and west of New Street Station and linking with the redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets to create a new lively area that has a mixture of central area activities, with an important thing being a new lake where there used to be a moat;
- finishing the improvement of the Eastside area, including changing how the routes and spaces work to create an area where the city centre, university, research and media activities all fit together well;
- the renewal of Highgate and its improvement as a good example of a district where families live within walking distance of the city centre;
- the renewal of Ladywood as a good residential neighbourhood with a mixture of homes with Icknield Port Loop.
Original Document
This report suggests a number of options for the core and each of the quarters. The four recommended major areas of transformation are:
- the opening up of the Southside area south and west of New Street Station and linking with the redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets to create a new vibrant area containing a mixture of central area activities, with a major focus at a new lake based on the site of the original moat;
- the completion of the Eastside regeneration, involving the reconfiguration of routes and spaces to create a coherent area of city centre and university, research and media related uses;
- the renewal of Highgate and its regeneration as an exemplar quarter for family living within walking distance of the core;
- the renewal of Ladywood as high quality residential neighbourhood with a mixture of homes, connected with Icknield Port Loop.
Plain English Version
The residential areas of Ladywood, Highgate and part of the Gun Quarter mainly have 20th Century social housing (such as council housing and that managed by housing associations) and layouts with not many people per area and have an inward-looking, self contained feel that does not relate to the city’s core. As a general rule, their outsides and public spaces are not nice, the buildings are not ageing well, their layouts do not follow good town design rules and they do not house a wide range of people. These areas are likely to need rebuilding or improving.
Original Document
The residential areas of Ladywood, Highgate and part of the Gun Quarter are dominated by 20th Century social housing stock and layouts at relatively low densities and have an inward-looking, self-contained feel that does not relate to the city’s core. As a general rule, their public realm and public spaces are not attractive, their housing stock is not ageing well, their layouts do not follow good urban design principles and they do not house a broad social mix. These areas are likely to require renewal or improvement.
Plain English Version
How could we improve the housing areas that we have at the moment in Highgate, Ladywood and the Gun Quarter?
Original Document
How might we improve the existing city centre residential areas in Highgate, Ladywood and the Gun Quarter?
Plain English Version
Ladywood, please click on the picture to go to a larger version
Ladywood is very close to the main city centre, has it’s own canals and could be a very desirable place to live.
At the moment though Ladywood needs significant improvement. The quality of the houses, shops and public facilities vary significantly. The overall design is based on out of date ideas. The place is inward-looking, hard to navigate and can make people feel insecure.
The Council owns most of the housing and has been making gradual improvements. The two to three storey homes are low density, which means more people could live on this land, and they look too suburban for somewhere so close to the city centre. There are also a few high-rise council towers.
The newest development is of privately owned 9-10 storey buildings beside the canal. These apartments turn their backs on the rest of the Ladywood estate and make it harder for the people who live there to reach the canal.
We think this area presents a great opportunity to create a successful neighbourhood with a strong community focus but it will mean major change. The quality of the housing can be improved significantly, as can the way we use the open space. The canal can then be used to its full potential and we can improve the way the neighbourhood connects to the National Indoor Arena area and the core of the city centre.
Some work is already happening. A new high quality residential development of four to seven storeys is already taking place along Ryland Street. The Icknield Port Loop area immediately to the west of Ladywood is being developed into a new neighbourhood which will makes the most of the old industrial canal loop. There will be a mixture of styles of homes, some owned by the people who live in them, others rented by private landlords of housing associations. At the moment it is cut off from the city centre by the ring road, canal and railway . The Big City Plan is a chance to investigate how those barriers can be removed. This would create a number of routes through Icknield Port Loop, Ladywood and on to the city centre, effectively merging the two neighbourhoods.
So we belive that if we bring together housing, planning and education policy and projects within Ladywood we can create a neighbourhood which works well for the people who live there.
Original Document
Ladywood is a housing area of variable quality, with some local shopping and social facilities and an environment that could benefit from significant improvement. Designed in part on the now old fashioned principles, with separate pedestrian and vehicle routes, the area falls significantly short against a number of urban design criteria. Streets and spaces are not overlooked, back gardens are exposed, leading to a perception of insecurity, there is no sense of enclosure, some of the spaces have a left-over and poorly maintained feel, and the area is inward-looking and not easy to navigate.
Yet Ladywood is very close to the city centre and adjacent to the canal and could be a very desirable place to live.
Most of the housing is Council owned and is very low density with the two to three storey housing appearing suburban and not reflective of its location close to the city centre. The residential area is interspersed with a few high-rise council towers.
The newest development has taken place on the canalside, being mainly 9-10 storey, privately owned apartments that turn their backs to the rest of the Ladywood estate and restrict access to the canal by residents of that estate.
Gradual improvement of Local Authority housing stock in Ladywood has taken place. However, this area presents a great opportunity for major transformation into a successful neighbourhood with a strong community focus. The quality of the housing can be significantly improved along with the configuration of open space. The canal frontage can then be utilised to its full potential and linkages through the area and to the core and NIA can be much improved.
A new high quality residential development of four to seven storeys is already taking place along Ryland Street. Based on perimeter blocks with landscaped courtyards, a variety of colours, material and heights.
The Icknield Port Loop area immediately to the west of Ladywood is being developed as a sustainable urban neighbourhood of mixed housing types and tenures with the canal loop as its focus. Its present disadvantage is that it is slightly isolated from the city centre as the ring road, canal and railway all form barriers. The Big City Plan creates the opportunity of investigating how those barriers can be overcome and create a number of routes through Icknield Port Loop, Ladywood and on to the city centre, effectively merging the two neighbourhoods.
Aligning housing, planning and education policy and projects within Ladywood gives us the opportunity to create a properly functioning neighbourhood.
Ladywood (Popup full image)
Plain English Version
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.
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 Version
Ladywood evolving.
Ladywood would gradually change with new homes being added. The aim would be to move towards a better environment, a better mix of home owners and people who rent, improved parks and green spaces, better community facilities and connections with other areas. The City Council Housing Department and Registered Social Landlords would do this as and when land became available. They would focusing on improving existing homes as well as introducing new ones.
Original Document
Ladywood evolving. Ladywood would gradually change to create a medium density residential urban neighbourhood, supported by local services. The aim would be to move towards a better environment, a better balance of housing tenure, improved green spaces, community facilities and connections with other areas. The Housing Department and RSLs would make improvements as and when sites are available, focusing on improving existing dwellings as well as introducing new homes.