Council makes a call for people to adhere to fair, accurate, and respectful consultation in Druids Heath

Druids Heath residents have been contacting Birmingham City Council to report misinformation and intimidation by individuals or groups opposed to the regeneration.

Druids Heath residents have been contacting Birmingham City Council to report misinformation and incidents where they have felt pressured, distressed and intimidated by individuals or groups opposed to the Druids Heath regeneration, over recent weeks.

Some residents have received unsolicited phone calls from people who have obtained their personal details without permission. When challenged, the callers have refused to say how they had acquired this. 

Residents have told the council that misinformation circulated locally on door-to-door petitions and on social media has caused significant distress and confusion. 

Staff at Birmingham City Council have also reported feeling intimidated following personal remarks about individual officers and the threat of public meetings being taken over to support large-scale protests. 

In response to the activity, Paul Langford, Executive Director for City Housing at Birmingham City Council, has called on everyone to adhere to the principles of fair, accurate, and respectful consultation in relation to the plans to regenerate Druids Heath.

Paul Langford, Executive Director for City Housing at Birmingham City Council, said:

“We want Druid Heath residents to know that we are taking their concerns seriously and will support them in any way we can.

“The regeneration plans at Druids Heath involve significant change, and we fully understand the strong feelings this can create.

“Having experienced my own home being part of a regeneration scheme when I was younger, I know how personal and emotional this process can be.

“However, consultation must always allow residents to express their views freely and without fear, regardless of whether those views are positive or negative. 

“We ask all groups involved in engagement activities to adhere to the principles of fair, accurate and respectful consultation.

“Intimidating, aggressive or confrontational behaviour to residents or staff will not be tolerated and will be acted upon. Everyone has the right to feel safe.”

To provide clarity on some of the misinformation circulating in the community, the council has made clear the following:

• The land at Druids Heath is not being sold to the developer, Lovell, for £1. It is being retained by the Council, 

• The council remains committed to delivering 1,785 affordable homes, representing 51% of homes in the development. This commitment has not changed. 

• The proposed 11.4% of the affordable homes (400 homes) will be delivered through the planning process.  All the 400 homes will be council-owned social rented homes. 

• All 978 existing tenants on the estate will be re-provided with social rented homes as part of the 51% affordable homes.

• A shared equity scheme for homeowners will be delivered. Details will be finalised once the council enters into a partnership agreement with Lovell, which has not yet happened. 

• The council is not making a profit from the regeneration scheme and will not financially benefit at the residents’ expense.