Leading conservationists, including English Heritage, are calling for a row of Victorian and Edwardian homes in Birmingham to be saved from demolition.
The plea comes as plans to bulldoze eight historic homes in Hagley Road to make way for a new state-of-the-art retirement village were put to the city council this week.
Conservationists, led by the Victorian Society, believe the homes, only one of which is in use, are an integral part of the Barnsley Road Conservation Area and can be returned to their former glory.
Number 324, built in 1895, is the last surviving house designed by arts and crafts architect Ernest Barnsley, part of the family from which the area takes its name.
Tim Bridges, of the Victorian Society, said: “Much of the original fabric of the house appears to survive, making, we believe, a significant and positive contribution to both the character of this conservation area and the heritage of the city as a whole.
“Indeed all these buildings, with many original features contribute significantly to the character of the Barnsley Road Conservation Area. Those on Hagley Road represent the former homes of the more prosperous, lining the main route in and out of Birmingham.”
Architect and society member Joe Holyoak added: “The development would result in the wrecking of a large part of the Barnsley Road Conservation Area.
“In allowing the large houses to deteriorate the city council has failed in its duty to protect the area. The society expects the planning committee to realise that the proposal is wrong and to reject the scheme.”
The society believes the homes can be retained and included in any redevelopment of the site. It is backed by the Government’s historic building watchdog English Heritage and the planning department’s own officers.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also considering an application to list two of the buildings, including the derelict former Lambert Court Hotel, to preserve them for future generations.
But the council’s housing department and the Extra Care Charitable Trust wants to put one of their retirement complexes on the vast site.
The complex, to include 236 sheltered flats and a village centre with restaurant, gym, shop, library, hair salon and health care facilities, is the latest of the council’s new Florida-style retirement villages. It’s first at New Oscott has been widely applauded, with thousands on waiting lists for apartments.
But English Heritage has called for the development to be refused and the houses to be restored.
The watchdog believes that all the houses are worth saving and make a positive contribution to the conservation area.
A letter from English Heritage to the council said: “We do not consider the current condition of some of the buildings negates this conclusion,” and adds that Barnsley Road is considered a conservation area at risk.
“Our engineer has surveyed the buildings and concludes that the problems associated with their re-using are indeed challenging, but that use in some form after extensive repair cannot be ruled out.”
The council’s design review panel, a group of leading planning and conservation officers, concluded that at least the frontages of four of the houses, numbers 324, 332, 334 and 336 need to be kept.
It concluded: “Whilst there is no objection to the use of the site for a retirement village, the form and layout of the development are inappropriate to the character of the Barnsley Road Conservation Area.”
