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Birmingham Tories pledge to get rid of every council tower block
Conservatives in the UK’s largest stock-owning council have pledged to get rid of all its tower blocks in just 10 years if triumphant at the May local elections.
Birmingham City Council, which is currently Labour-dominated, owns around 62,000 homes and 213 high rises – more than almost any other social landlord in Britain.
The city’s Tories plan to demolish or sell off every tower block and aim to replace them with houses or low-rise blocks of flats.
They said it is “unacceptable” that 6,114 households with children are currently living in Birmingham’s tower blocks.
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Robert Alden, leader of Birmingham Conservatives, said: “Every resident of Birmingham deserves to live in a decent quality home. Sadly too many tower blocks in this city are blighted by anti-social behaviour and litter.
“Birmingham Conservatives say enough is enough; we will build the houses needed to give everyone a quality home to live in.”
Under the policy, tenants of demolished tower blocks would be offered places in new build homes nearby in a bid to keep communities together.
The pledge comes as the council’s cabinet is expected to approve plans tomorrow for the first £19m of spending in a £31m programme to retrofit sprinklers in all of its high rises.
Mr Alden signed a joint letter to prime minister Theresa May last month from Ian Ward, leader of the council, asking for £19.4m funding towards the works.
The Conservatives have also promised to extend the residency requirement from one to five years for a place on the council’s housing waiting list, as well as committing to slowing conversions of family homes into houses in multiple occupation.
Labour has announced a pledge to slash rough sleeping in the city.
Of 120 councillors in the authority, 79 are currently Labour, while 29 are Conservative and 10 are Liberal Democrat, with one independent and one vacant seat.
The local elections will be held on 3 May.
