Berkeley’s Birmingham arm wins £2.2bn Ladywood contract

Berkeley’s Birmingham-focused subsidiary has been chosen to take forward the long-awaited £2.2bn redevelopment of the city’s Ladywood Estate. St Joseph Homes has won the contract to regenerate the 153-acre estate on the edge of Birmingham city centre. The council launched its hunt for a development partner in 2019 but progress was put on hold by the Covid-19 pandemic. The estate currently contains around 1,000 homes, most of which were built in the 1950s and 1960s. The council’s vision, drawn up with Avison Young, proposes a comprehensive redevelopment of around 7,000 homes. But as part of the procurement process, bidders were required to develop an indicative masterplan. Other amenities will include a new school, office and workshop space and 34 acres of green space, including two new parks. The city council’s cabinet is expected to agree the deal on 27 June, with a development agreement signed in December. A planning application is expected to be submitted in 2025, with work slated to begin three years later. The full redevelopment is expected to take 20 years. Birmingham leader John Cotton said: “The delivery of Ladywood Estate Regeneration Scheme is the city’s most significant housing regeneration and redevelopment opportunity and key to the sustainable growth and development of the city.” To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews