Annual Development Summary 2011-12

Birmingham City Council's administrative area covers almost 270 square kilometres. More than half of this area is in use for housing and one fifth in agriculture, allotment and recreational open space uses.

Summary of Developments 2011-12

• 1,648 dwellings (gross) were completed across the City during the year to April 2012. The total included 1,516 new build (including 129 student studio/cluster flats) and 132 gross conversions to dwellings.

• 14% of completions were built in the city centre compared with one third in 2009-10.

• There were 371 dwellings demolished compared with 945 during the previous year.

• 1558 dwellings (net) were completed. The net gain from new build plus net conversions in the City’s dwelling stock was 1,187. This was up on the previous year's figure of 985 but significantly lower than the 2005-06 peak year when net gains were just over 3,000.

• 99% of new homes were built on previously developed ‘brownfield’ land.

New municipal housing completed at Egg Hill, Longbridge

• Around one half (53%) of new build dwellings were for private sale. Affordable dwellings built for Housing Associations/Registered Social Landlords (secured through Section 106 agreements) made up around 39%.

• 242 dwellings were completed through the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT), the City Council's programme of house building, working in partnership with private developers providing a mix of homes for sale and rent.

• 75 hectares (ha.) of land were developed on completed sites, 42% of which were for residential use.

• Around 36,000 m² of industrial and 47,500 m² of office and retail floor space were built.

• The total area of land being developed (under construction) at April 2012 was 126 ha.

• A total of 2,278 dwellings (net) were under construction including conversions.

See Development in Birmingham during 2011-12 or download the file below for further details.

Land for Future Development in Birmingham (at April 2012)

• 642 ha. of land had a policy commitment for development (‘committed’ land - see below) across the City, where construction had not started.

• 83% of sites were smaller than one hectare in size and only 9 (less than 1%) were larger than 10 hectares.

• 56% of ‘committed’ land area had full or outline planning permission. 40% was allocated for development in the current approved Development Plan.

• Three quarters of 'committed’ land was in private ownership.

• 94% of ‘committed’ land was previously developed or ‘brownfield’ land (606 ha. in total). Some of these sites are affected by physical, service or ownership constraints that impede development.

• There were 347 ha. of ‘committed’ land that were unused including 62 ha. (10%) that were derelict.

• Around 8,800 dwellings (new build and conversions) had full planning permission, of which 60% were in the city centre.

• A further 7,000 dwellings had outline planning permission.

• 28% of ‘committed’ land (180 ha.) was proposed for purely residential use and a further 71 ha. for mixed residential and commercial use.

• 36 ha. was proposed for non-residential mixed commercial use and 28 ha. for retail.

• 31% (201 ha.) was proposed for industry/warehousing.

Definition of Committed Land

Committed Land is land with a policy commitment for development. This includes all sites where construction has not started but where (1) a planning permission for development or redevelopment exists (excluding residential extensions and other minor developments) and/or (2) proposals for development are shown in the Unitary Develpment Plan (UDP).

Last Updated : 4th December 2012