Yesterday, we reported that the demolition industry had scored a notable victory over the refurbishment sector as Southwark Council gave the go ahead to bring down the controversial Maydew House. Unfortunately, it now appears that the refurb industry could be on the verge of scoring an equaliser in Birmingham.
Architects Journal is reporting that Birmingham City Council is to reconsider its September decision to demolish the famous Ringway Centre following a legal challenge mounted by heritage and environmental campaigners.
An amended officers’ report will be presented to the council’s planning committee early in the New Year after a coalition of campaigners known as Save Smallbrook claimed planning officers had misrepresented aspects of the application.
Reacting to the news, Mary Keating, from Bruitful Birmingham, one of the groups behind Save Smallbrook, said: ‘We are delighted that the planning department has listened to our concerns.
‘It’s essential that officers accurately represent the views of heritage experts and fully understand the steps that need to be taken now in order to become carbon-neutral by 2030.
‘Quite rightly, councillors need to think about meeting the city’s major housing needs. However, the number of “affordable” properties in this development is derisory.
Before September’s meeting, Twentieth Century Society (C20) caseworker Coco Whittaker had reminded the city council of its declaration of climate emergency in 2019.
She said: ‘The Ringway Centre is a striking and robust historic building, which could easily be repurposed to become a real asset for the city.
‘We simply should not be bulldozing perfectly good buildings like this, particularly when they have clear heritage value, as is the case here.’
