The estates of Atwood Green were notorious no go areas, cut off from each other and Birmingham city centre by hostile subways and major roads. Few residents dared venture into the featureless parkland that surrounded them.

This case study looks at the regeneration of Atwood Green, an area which comprised five previously run-down housing estates near Birmingham city centre.

The re-branded 'Park Central' is creating a new, vibrant community and has come about thanks to a unique partnership between the Local Authority, developer and Housing Association.

The case study describes Phase 1 of the project covering 60 acres of the former Lee Bank Estate

The Local authority took the unusual step of handing over housing stock and land to a developer in return for guaranteed benefits, bypassing conventional planning approaches. Key to the project’s success was the partnership structure.

The council created a new landlord, the Optima Community Association, to take on the five estates, and came up with a development framework that bypassed traditional planning guidance.

The developer, Crest Nicholson agreed to carry out £33 million worth of essential community benefits at the outset to offset these later against capital receipts for the land.

Resident involvement was also important in developing Park Central.

An attractive, high-density development is emerging. Strict zoning has given way to mixed tenures, interspersed with offices, shops, a hotel and public facilities. Two landscaped parks form the heart of the development. Local design features give the new developments character, while plans for a new shopping centre, parks and schools aim to give a community focus.

The guaranteed essential works carried out for the Council by the developer include closing subways, improving roads and landscaping. Two bed flats and town houses are now selling briskly, while Optima has a closed waiting list of people wishing to move into the area.

In addition to the guaranteed benefits secured via the new partnership structure (worth £33 million), the council also secured a £50 million grant from the Governments Estate Renewal Challenge Fund to kick start the scheme, which enabled Optima to begin refurbishing a proportion of housing stock.

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//2001

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Urban renewal

Housing estate redevelopment