There are 29 Conservation Areas in Birmingham, from the chocolate-box village of Bournville to the Jewellery Quarter's historic workshops. However, other neighbourhoods that once had potential will likely never receive protected status, and an expert says DIY muck-ups are to blame.
Expert Blames Homeowner Renovations
Tim Bridges, a conservation adviser for The Victorian Society for 20 years, says a lack of 'will to create new Conservation Areas' and widespread unsympathetic renovations have squandered opportunities. He notes that areas like Handsworth Wood, Acocks Green, and the area around St Germain's in Edgbaston have lost their chance due to cumulative changes.
"In my time I've noticed that there were neighbourhoods that had the possibility of becoming new Conservation Areas, but there had been so many changes to so many buildings in the meantime that it was too late," Bridges said. "It's been an erosion over time, and a decline."
What Changes Are to Blame?
Common DIY alterations include adding modern driveways, painting over brickwork, replacing front doors, and swapping Victorian sash windows for PVC alternatives. These changes erode the historic character that makes an area worthy of protection.
Importance of Conservation Areas
Conservation Areas impose rules on what owners can and cannot do, preserving the special characteristics of neighbourhoods. Birmingham City Council has powers under planning law to control building, demolition, tree removal, and advertising. The council can also carry out urgent repairs on unlisted buildings and recover costs from owners.
Protected areas include Lozells, Soho Hill, and Kings Norton, home to the largest collection of Tudor buildings in Birmingham. The Ideal Village in Bordesley Green was once on the list but was removed after extensive unsympathetic works left little to protect.
Ongoing Concerns in Protected Areas
Even within existing Conservation Areas, Bridges says unauthorised works are increasing. "We're concerned about the amount of unauthorised works that we see," he said. "People are replacing windows and doors, particularly in conservation areas, and that's not always enforced. It's not policed. Someone does that work and then there's no resource to get what was there reinstated."
Bridges points to Barnsley Road in Edgbaston as a neighbourhood that should be monitored closely to prevent further erosion of its historic character.
