Grade II listed former police station in Birmingham could be knocked down for new housing estate

Plans to bulldoze a derelict police station in Birmingham and build a new housing estate in its place look set to be approved despite a number of objections citing traffic concerns, parking and the loss of mature trees.

The plan to knock down the former Billesley police station on Yardley Wood Road in favour of building 29 affordable homes will be discussed next week, November 30. The developer, Wonderful Homes Ltd, wants to build a range of one-bed (6), two-bed (10), three-bed (5) and four-bed (8) family homes. A planning document states that “the scheme will be predominantly secured for social and affordable rent” while the ratio of first-time buyers would be restricted to no more than 30 per cent.

The Billesley police station building, which sits opposite Swanshurst Park, has been empty since June 2019. Along with 29 homes, the 1.81 acre site would be accompanied with parking of up to 48 spaces.

Should the development be given the go-ahead next week, around £230,000 will be made available via a Section 106 agreement given the impact on the local area. This six-figure sum, according to the papers, will be spent on pedestrian safety measures – i.e. the creation of a crossing and/or yellow lines – along Yardley Wood Road as well improvements to Swanshurst Park.

The proposal to build new homes has, however, received some backlash from local residents in Billesley. There have been 15 letters and emails calling for the development to be scrapped while more than 150 people signed a petition to reinstate Billesley police station. “The proposed access is on a notoriously dangerous road with many accidents,” said one objector. A second added: “A reduction in the number of houses and the retention of the police building would be more suitable.” While a third put: “The loss of mature trees will impact on air quality.”

Labour ward councillors Phil Davis and Katherine Iroh, though, back the housing plans, as do community group The Moseley Society. A formal decision on the transformation of the former Billesley police station into 29 new homes will be made on November 30.