Plans to redevelop land take step forward.

Plans to redevelop the land where Poolway Shopping Centre in Birmingham used to stand have taken a crucial step forward.

A plot of land at the Meadway has been vacant since around 2019 following the demolition of the shopping centre and a number of residential tower blocks.

But the city council has this week agreed to move forward with the sale of land at the empty site, with around eight acres now set to be sold for the development of affordable housing.

Another two acres are to be sold to a ‘commercial operator’ and could be used as space for a new supermarket.

On the housing plans, the council wrote in a recent report that the demand for affordable homes across the city and surrounding areas is “extremely high”.

“[There are] over 31,000 households on the housing register and more than 5,500 households in temporary accommodation,” it said.

“With a higher than national average waiting list and increased numbers of families in temporary accommodation, it is imperative for the council to meet the need and provide homes.”

The council report continued: “The land at Meadway has remained undeveloped since demolition in 2019.

“This paper seeks approval to sell the land […] to deliver a new affordable housing scheme which is likely to comprise of up to 150 homes, subject to planning permission.

“Delivering this site promptly will reduce the ongoing cost liabilities to the council of securing and maintaining this site, as well as supporting the council to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation, particularly families in bed and breakfast.”

The site is being sold subject to planning consent and grant funding, it adds.

The council also said there are two acres of brownfield development land at the Meadway, which is suitable for a “range of retail uses, health and/or community uses”.

“A supermarket operator has made a bid to purchase the freehold of the two-acre site,” it went on to say. “The operator will deliver a 19,900sqft supermarket, approximately 120 car parking spaces and units for community/retail use adjacent to the site.

“The disposal is conditional upon planning permission which will be submitted and managed by the supermarket operator.”

Councillors agreed at a property meeting on Monday, September 21, to move forward with the sale of both the residential and commercial land at the site.

A Birmingham Council officer told the meeting that the site at the Meadway would be redeveloped into a “new residential community” if the proposals for the land go ahead.

“It has been subject to a community event,” she continued. “We’ve had both the local ward member and the local MP attend the event.

“It has been publicised and the community has expressed a desire to see these two sites come forward.”

She added the proposal for the housing was 70 per cent social rent and 30 per cent shared ownership, subject to planning.