First steps towards legal challenge opposing Druids Heath regeneration plan

In a letter sent to Birmingham City Council, Druids Heath and Monyhull Neighbourhood Forum (DHMF) has laid out its opposition to the plan, which residents say could force them out of their homes.

The group has called on the council to quash its decision to grant outline planning permission.

The regeneration plan was unveiled by the council in 2024, and sets out plans to demolish 1,800 homes and construct 3,500 new homes in the Druids Heath area. The area was constructed in the 1960s and currently consists of more than 1,200 council tenants.

While the council has promised that 1,785 (51%) of the homes will be affordable, at present only 400 are detailed in the planning application as social rented homes.

The regeneration plan has raised concerns amongst residents - including some with specially adapted homes - that they will be priced out of the area, and that the demolition of homes will result in the loss of a community.

Following a meeting in October 2025, councillors narrowly voted to approve outline planning permission for the regeneration plan.

Now, DHMF has written to Birmingham City Council putting them on legal notice over the decision to approve the plan.

The group argues that the plan will disproportionately impact people with protected characteristics, such as elderly or disabled people or people from an ethnic minority, many of whom live in social rented accommodation in the area.

The group also says that there was a failure in community engagement in the council’s consultation process.

The proposed grounds of claim are:

• There was a breach of public sector equality duty, in that the decision to grant planning permission failed to have regard to the disproportionate impact on those with protected characteristics.
• Planning committee members were misled as to what benefits, such as affordable housing requirements, could be secured in the planning permission stage.
• Unlawful use of conditions to secure financial contributions and monitoring fees.
• Incorrect approach by the council to infrastructure contributions.
• DHMF has called on the council to overturn its decision to grant outline planning permission, and raises the possibility of bringing a judicial review claim if this does not happen.

DHMF said:

“This isn't just about regeneration, it's about saving a community. We're not just houses, we're homes. We need people to support our legal challenge to stop Birmingham City Council's mass demolition and demand a plan that puts people, not just properties, first.”

Leigh Day solicitor Julia Eriksen, who represents DHMF, said:

“Our clients are members of the community in Druids Heath who fear that the regeneration plan will displace a large number of families from the area, without guaranteeing a right to return or replacement levels of affordable housing. In sending this letter, they hope that the council will reconsider its decision to grant outline planning permission, and look at better assessing the impact of the regeneration plan on the community.”

DHMF are crowdfunding for their legal challenge.