'We're lucky here': The desirable Birmingham suburb where content residents have 'everything we need'
What’s life really like in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield? We visit Mere Green to speak to locals about community life, housing, and whether the area’s reputation still holds up.
Located within Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, is an affluent neighbourhood with huge homes and it is nestled close to the north and east borders of Sutton Park.
Four Oaks homes are almost twice as expensive as those in the rest of Birmingham, according to Rightmove.
Over the past 12 months, Four Oaks has averaged £495,916. In contrast, the average cost of a home in the rest of Birmingham is £254,227.
Four Oaks has long been regarded as one of Birmingham’s wealthiest enclaves – a district of sprawling homes, tree-lined avenues, and discreet prosperity. Here, the streets are quiet, the gardens manicured, and the air of old money is unmistakable.
Watch the video: Richard Gullick reports from Four Oaks
It’s not just bricks and mortar that define the area. The neighbourhood grew from royal hunting grounds, its roads named for aristocrats, and many homes designed before the First World War by prominent architects. That history is still visible in the layout, the seclusion, and the guarded sense of identity.
At the heart of local life is Mere Green, the suburb’s busy shopping and dining hub. Just down from the station, it’s where residents run errands, meet for coffee, and keep the rhythm of daily life ticking.
That desire for preservation has often put the community at the centre of planning disputes. In 2019, proposals to install gates at all eight entrances to the Four Oaks Estate sparked fierce debate.
Supporters claimed it would improve safety; opponents saw it as social exclusion. Birmingham City Council refused the plan, but the discussion never really went away. Infill developments and redevelopment proposals still divide opinion, with some residents calling for no change at all, while others argue that evolution is inevitable.
One thing is clear – change here happens slowly. There are no high-rise blocks, student flats, or rapid turnover of housing stock. That stability is part of the appeal, but also a source of tension, especially as nearby projects like the Langley development raise concerns over traffic and infrastructure.
In Mere Green, however, the mood remains upbeat. Cafés are busy, shops are thriving, and footfall is steady. Many say they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. For others, rising prices make Four Oaks a dream out of reach.
Four Oaks doesn’t flaunt its affluence. It doesn’t have to. The houses, the cars, and the tall hedges speak for themselves. But even here, beyond the gated driveways and leafy lanes, the pressures of a growing city are creeping closer – and whether the suburb can remain untouched is a question its residents will be answering for years to come.
We speak to residents who live in Four Oaks
We thought it would be best to chat with residents in the local area to find out what they like about the neighbourhood and if there are any changes they’d like to see in the area.
So on a August day, we travelled to Mere Green, the area's main shopping and dining hub to gain an insight into life inside this exclusive suburb. From visiting the area, BirminghamWorld could tell that this was a sharp departure from other parts of the city. There was an obvious buzz, with busy cafés, thriving shops, and a steady flow of footfall.
One woman who has lived in Four Oaks for 10 years told us that it was the good quality in education that first caught her eye and prompted a move to the area.
She shared, “I think what first attracted me to this area was the schools for my daughter, and the general housing and the facilities here.”
She continued: “I’ve been here over 10 years now, and for me it’s pretty much stayed the same and if not got better in terms of shops and facilities.”
Similarly another resident shared she enjoyed the range of shops but missed the prevalence of independent shops in the area. She said “It’s quite nice around here, we’re lucky. We’ve got a better range of shops than Sutton has.
If there could be any improvements, she recommended, “They could do with individuals, that's what I miss. Most people my age [miss the] butchers, bakers.”
Finally, a third shared that she appreciated the family connection she has to Four Oaks.
“My husband was born and bred in Four Oaks. I wasn’t but I was a nurse at the local hospital at Good Hope ended up meeting him.. moved back because we’ve got family here.”
She also pointed out the lack of local independent shops, but felt that it actually made the area better for residents as they have more options to choose from.
“There used to be a lot more local shops and now it’s bigger brands, but it’s better now. This area has been regenerated.”