{"id":5294,"date":"2023-11-03T06:34:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T06:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zerocarbonhousebirmingham.org.uk\/?p=5294"},"modified":"2023-11-07T16:27:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T16:27:12","slug":"save-smallbrook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zerocarbonhousebirmingham.org.uk\/save-smallbrook\/","title":{"rendered":"Save Smallbrook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s not over yet. The Save Smallbrook group is stepping up its campaign to rescue one of Birmingham\u2019s most significant heritage buildings from demolition. We have instructed a top climate and heritage barrister to act on our behalf following the decision by Birmingham City Council to bulldoze The Ringway Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estelle Dehon KC<\/a> is acting for Brutiful Birmingham<\/a>, Birmingham Modernist Society<\/a>, The Twentieth Century Society<\/a> and Birmingham\u2019s zero carbon house<\/a>, who together make up the Save Smallbrook campaign group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the outcome of our initial work, we will be launching a crowdfunding campaign to pay her fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this is happening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In September 2023, Birmingham City Council’s planning committee voted by a one-vote margin to raze the landmark Ringway Centre \u2013 a significant example of post-war commercial modernism \u2013 in favour of allowing three tower blocks, up to 54 storeys high, to be built on the Smallbrook site. See Full planning application<\/a> REF 2022\/08496\/PA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this matters – climate change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a move that flies in the face of the city\u2019s commitment to play a leading role in tackling climate change and becoming a net zero carbon city. The carbon emitted through adapting the Ringway Centre to make it into an energy-efficient building (retrofitting) is a fraction of the carbon emitted through demolition and starting again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are concerned that insufficient weight has been given to the environmental impact of the planning committee\u2019s decision and have suggested a more eco-friendly form of development. See the Counter proposal for Smallbrook Ringway<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the developers’ admission, 187,219,000 kg of CO2 would be generated with these tower blocks, which is the same carbon emissions as an average UK car driving the whole way around the world 33,000 times. In our counter proposal, we could create 450 homes for a tiny percentage of that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this matters – Birmingham’s heritage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We are also concerned by the seeming lack of regard for the city\u2019s architectural heritage. The Ringway Centre, which has been described as the Regent Street of Birmingham due to its length and sweeping curve, was designed by Rotunda architect James Roberts (1962).  James Roberts was Birmingham-born and trained at Birmingham School of Art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His work demonstrates a particular take on Birmingham Modernism and has been described as \u201cfrivolous Brutalism\u201d. It has also been categorised as carchitecture as the repetition of the concrete relief and the bullhorn uplighters are designed to be seen from a moving car. The building is locally listed because of its important contribution to the streetscape. The buildings on either side of Smallbrook form the most intact example of post-war design in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bullhorn uplighters on the Ringway Centre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Supporters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our campaign to Save Smallbrook has significant supporters ranging from Brummie historian Carl Chinn to\u00a0Guardian<\/em>\u00a0architecture correspondent Oliver Wainwright to Libby Harris of Birmingham Friends of the Earth. Architects, including\u00a0Stirling-prize winners Haworth Tompkins, Caruso St John and Niall McLaughlin have also pledged their support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To see the full list of architects and climate change campaigners who are backing our campaign, see the signatories of the Open Letter to Councillor Ian Ward and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Protestors at the Ringway Centre, which is covered in branding to celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How you can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the outcome of our initial actions, we will be asking our supporters for funds to take our campaign to the next stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please email us if you would like to go on our campaign mailing list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Email us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We will be using social media to spread the word so if you could retweet and repost that would be very helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n