Proposal to Repurpose the Beeches

Together with Spring Housing, we want to repurpose the Beeches to give it a new and meaningful lease of life as apartments for families in need of safe and suitable accommodation. These families are trapped in temporary accommodation due to the lack of affordable housing in Birmingham.

The proposed scheme will be general needs housing, like many social housing tenancies in Bournville. Spring will provide housing management-related services and a range of advice and information services to help people thrive and achieve their life goals.

Why are we doing this?

• Like many major cities, Birmingham is faced with an acute and ongoing housing shortage. Birmingham City Council acknowledged this year the number of people, particularly families, living in temporary accommodation is “far too high”.
• Due to the national housing crisis, cost-of-living crisis and increasing cost of mortgages and rents, the City Council is seeing over 500 applications a week from people at risk of becoming homeless.
• By creating new rented homes at the Beeches, BVT and Spring will play a part in providing homes to those in urgent housing need in Birmingham.

How will the building be repurposed?

• The building will be remodelled to create 26 individual two, three and four-bedroom apartments.
• Each apartment will have its own facilities including a kitchen, bathroom, living space and bedrooms.
• The car park will be retained to provide sufficient parking. There is existing parking to the front and rear.
• Communal space/s will be created within the building.
• Existing gardens will be retained.

Who will live there?

• Apartments will be offered to families in urgent housing need in Birmingham.
• All families will be assessed by Birmingham City Council and Spring to determine the urgency of their housing need and suitability for accommodation in line with Spring’s Allocations Policy.
• Apartments will be allocated to families based on their household make-up and in line with Spring’s Allocations Policy to prevent under occupancy or overcrowding. 
• The maximum number of people who can be allocated based on bedroom sizes is listed below:

*Dependant on the youngest child’s age

• Families in temporary accommodation and in need of housing have ended up in these circumstances for varied reasons (many outside their control). For example, no fault evictions (Section 21 Notices), loss of property due to mortgage repossessions, relationship breakdowns, domestic abuse, been asked to leave by family members, etc.

How will the scheme be managed?

Spring will provide housing management through a local Tenancy Sustainment Worker (Housing Officer) and services from its Repairs and Grounds Maintenance team.  The housing management service includes a range of housing-related services to help families sustain their tenancies. These services will be based on individual needs of families and tailored appropriately. Services can include helping families to:

• Understand their legal responsibility as a tenant including paying rent, adhering to tenancy agreements and knowing their rights.
• Apply and gain appropriate benefits linked to housing provision.
• Manage their tenancy including basic maintenance and budgeting for utilities bill payments, including discounts for utilities and switching.
• Report repairs in their home.
• Manage anti-social behaviour directed at them by others or understand where they need to change their own behaviour.
• Access appropriate statutory and voluntary agencies such as health.
• Access training and education or employment or volunteering opportunities.
• Find alternative accommodation due to changes in family circumstances, including health issues.

All families will be offered an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement. Part of Spring’s housing management offer is to ensure families adhere to the terms and conditions within these agreements.

A planning application for the proposal (Application Number 2023/07517/PA) has now been submitted and you can view it on Birmingham City Council’s planning portal at https://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=1278948&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Birmingham/xslt/PL/PLDe