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Chapter 4 | Development Development | Chapter 4 Reinventing the Home In 2002 Mercian Housing Association began construction of 28 ‘Reinventing the Home’ family houses along Cadbury Drive, one of three areas specified for new-build development in the 1995 masterplan. The innovative scheme sought to identify design characteristics which would adapt to their occupant’s changing domestic requirements. As a consequence the houses and flats incorporate a range of features more typically found in speculative housing for sale. Environmental improvements Centre Park Centre Park occupies an area of 2.36 acres in the centre of the former Centre 8 site. The open green space, designed by Birmingham City Council’s Landscape Practice Group, includes play and sports facilities for children of all ages, and a small formal garden. It was completed in February 2003. Health and social care The Sanctuary The Sanctuary – originally known as the Voluntary Sector Project – is located near the main shopping centre on Tangmere Drive. It is a facility for use by organisations without dedicated premises, principally charitable and community groups. The building, designed by TSP Architects and built by Chase Norton Construction, took nine months to complete. It opened in August 1999. The Housing Action Trust covered approximately half of the cost, which came to a little under £1 million. The remainder came from a combination of private and public sources including a contribution from Allied Dunbar (see also chapter 5). Economic development Enterprise Park Situated on the far east of the estate, the Enterprise Park is a new-build commercial development with 44 units for use by small and medium-sized enterprises. The development, completed in March 2000, cost £3.58 million. Funds came from the Housing Action Trust, the European Regional Development Fund, Advantage West Midlands, and the private sector. It was designed by architect David Rowbotham Ltd. 50 51
Chapter 5 | Health Health | Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Between 1992 and 2005 life expectancy in Castle Vale rose by an one roof seemed like a progressive idea, like the estate itself. I thought Dr Sadler enjoyed most of his career in Castle Vale. “The last few Health average of more than seven years 1 . The achievement was underpinned by two factors above all others: improved housing and it was important that we were all aware of each other’s activities.” Unusually for the 1960s, doctors, midwives, social workers, and health years were tarnished because, I’m afraid that the city council did use it as a dumping ground.” environment, and a strategy for health improvements tailored to visitors in Castle Vale were all based in the same building 3 . problems prevalent on the estate. From the mid-1980s the arrival of large numbers of single men led “The 1960s baby boom meant that there were quite a lot of single to a significant increase in instances of anti-social behaviour. Noise The strategy was based on a 1992 survey of the estate which mums around. The estate also had a very young population. At one pollution, intimidation, and drug abuse all rose. The rot was provided evidence of the social and economic conditions in Castle Vale. It also documented the ailments, afflictions, and barriers – real stage I think that 36% of residents were under the age of 12. It is also true that plenty of girls got pregnant to get council setting in. (Above) Castle Vale school pupils’ dance performance and (below) cycling is one of a range of holiday activities. and imagined – that contributed to a reduction in residents’ quality accommodation. To some it was the only means of leaving home As soon as the Housing Action Trust was up and running, residents of life. and being independent,” says Dr Sadler. wasted little time in voicing their concerns about anti-social behaviour. It was prioritised very early. The problem was that the The report was commissioned by Jay Hill, then deputy director for From the mid-1970s there was a noticeable dissatisfaction with Trust had multiple priorities in the early years. Education, the repairs health at Birmingham City Council 2 . “It was well known that Castle high-rise living. Dr Sadler remembers the flats as noisy and damp, backlog, the estate’s negative image, and so much more all required Vale was deprived, but it wasn’t clear what people were dying of, and unsuitable for families with young children. Elderly people felt attention. Improving the health of residents was just one aspect of whether cancers, heart attacks, or strokes, or at what age.” It was particularly isolated. “But although the stairwells and public areas the process, albeit a vital one. equally unclear what could be done to improve the situation, and were often poorly maintained, people generally took great pride in why the problems were so deep-rooted. their own flats.” Assessment The 1992 Health Needs Assessment revealed that life expectancy The early years Pat Smith, a health worker in Castle Vale from 1968 to 1988, was low (68.3 years against a national average of 75.9 4 ), and rates Dr Paul Sadler was one of the first GPs in Castle Vale. “I started work remembers a higher than average number of children with upper of perinatal mortality 5 were among the highest in the West Midlands. on 13 November 1967, and stayed until 1995. I wanted to go to respiratory problems: “Particularly those living in the flat-roofed Rates of mental illness and domestic violence were also Volunteers run clubs such as Castle Vale Junior Kick Start (above). Castle Vale because the integration of all health practitioners under maisonette blocks.” disproportionately high. 52 1 Sources: Health Needs Assessment for Castle Vale commissioned from MEL Research, Birmingham, published in autumn 1992; Castle Vale Final Health, Social and Economic Baseline, published in autumn 2004. 2 Jay Hill took up her post as the Housing Action Trust’s full-time health consultant in 1994. 3 Until the completion of a purpose-built health centre on Tangmere Drive, there was a temporary clinic at 44-48 Brookepiece Walk. 4 Source: Office of National Statistics. In 1991 the expectation of life at birth across the United Kingdom was: 73.2 years (male), and 78.7 years (female). The mean life expectancy was 75.95 years. 5 Perinatal mortality refers to still births or deaths at less than one week. 53
Page 1 and 2: No Longer Notorious The Revival of
Page 3 and 4: Preface | No Longer Notorious No Lo
Page 5 and 6: Chapter 1 | The Rise and Fall of Ca
Page 11 and 12: Chapter 2 | Setting Up the Housing
Page 17 and 18: Chapter 3 | Housing Housing | Chapt
Page 23 and 24: Chapter 4 | Development Development
Page 25 and 26: Chapter 4 | Development Development
Page 27: Chapter 4 | Development Development
Page 31 and 32: Chapter 5 | Health Health | Chapter
Page 33 and 34: Chapter 5 | Health Health | Chapter
Page 35 and 36: Chapter 6 | Crime Crime | Chapter 6
Page 37 and 38: Chapter 6 | Crime Crime | Chapter 6
Page 39 and 40: Chapter 7 | Employment and Educatio
Page 45 and 46: Chapter 8 | Art, Environment and Im
Page 51 and 52: Chapter 9 | Succession Succession |
Page 53 and 54: Chapter 9 | Succession Succession |
Page 55 and 56: Chapter 10 | Transferable Lessons T
Page 57 and 58: Chapter 10 | Transferable Lessons T
Page 59 and 60: Chapter 10 | Transferable Lessons N
Page 61 and 62: Biographies | No Longer Notorious N

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