Over 4,000 households on three estates - Pool Farm, Primrose and Hawkesley - will be consulted in the next few weeks on the extensive redevelopment programme, which has been drawn up following an initial master planning exercise by Kings Norton New Deal for Communities (NDC) in 2004.
Residents will be advised how the Big Change will affect them and how they can help to make a difference to the area. They will be asked to complete a short questionnaire to share their views on the redevelopment proposals as part of a wider consultation exercise across all three estates, including house-to-house surveys and telephone surveys to make sure that all residents are consulted on the Big Change option.
Birmingham City Council, with the support of the Government Office for the West Midlands, and in partnership with the Kings Norton NDC, are looking to press ahead with the major clearance and remodelling of the area to provide more affordable homes for rent or sale on the three estates and a new retail facility within the local area. Plans for the future could also include the development of a flagship Extra Care village to meet the housing needs of older people and environmental improvements to benefit the wider area.
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If residents are in favour of the Big Change option, the redevelopment will be carried out on a phased basis to ensure that rehousing of residents is managed effectively and to minimise disruption throughout the estates.
Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “We are pleased to be taking a lead to kickstart the major regeneration of Kings Norton. By working with Kings Norton NDC, residents will benefit from new affordable homes within sustainable communities, where people will choose to live.”
Canon Rob Morris, Chair of Kings Norton New Deal Partnership Board added: “Our vision for the three estates comes out of years of hard work by so many people. It is based on new and improved housing, a safe and clean environment for all, quality education, increased job opportunities and better shopping facilities. The Big Change will help to make this happen in our local communities.”
Demolition has already started on the Pool Farm estate. A ‘yes’ from residents will see further re-housing later this year. Homes not selected for demolition, which do not currently meet the decent homes standard will benefit from central heating, UPVC double-glazing and higher levels of insulation by 2010.
The NDC programme, for which the city council is the accountable body, has been running in Kings Norton since 1999 and is due for completion in 2010.
(LC)
