Bournville & Stirchley’s best kept secret is about to go public
” Welcome to Bournville Eco Village (BEV) and Stirchley Eco Education & Community Hub (SEECH). In partnership with philanthropic local business people from a social enterprise background. Two brand new concepts set to raise the bar environmentally and architecturally for our community “
Important message – please read
This website shows one of six or seven ideas we have had for the woods and only acts as a concept at present. These ideas build on work and reports that the previous owner compiled seven years ago. We’ve spoken to many stakeholders already (we apologise if we haven’t contacted you yet and promise we will do in due course).
We have not yet decided on the best way to move forward, as we are waiting on various assessments focused on the ecological impact on the woods. We hope you can see that we care about the environment from the people that we have chosen to work with on this project.
It’s important to note that most developers would look to build dozens of houses on a plot of this size and this is not our intention. Instead, our original idea was to build just five or six dwellings taking out all of the U rated trees and leaving in as many of the good trees as possible. We also propose to move trees and shrubs to other areas on the site and / or plant new ones to increase biodiversity.
Building a modest development would enable us to generate enough income to drastically improve the woodland by opening it up to the public (a little bit like Moseley bog) and create a lovely walk to the canal and train station for everyone to enjoy.
One of the newer ideas we have had is to turn the main part of the woods into a Forest School space for local school children and youth groups. Another is to build affordable housing to rent and buy for local people struggling to afford to buy in the area.
As it stands today, nothing has been decided and no plans have been submitted. This website is simply an ‘ideas dump’ of what could be considered and it was also created to spark debate. We can assure you that no definite steps will take place without the opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ideas.
Once we have whittled the ideas down, we will be consulting with the local residents, the wider Stirchley & Bournville community as well as all the necessary stakeholders from Birmingham and the West Midlands.
We plan to hold a public meeting to discuss our ideas once finalised in a few months’ time.
We plan to build a World Class Eco Village and a totally unique Education & Community Hub which will attract 1,000s of visitors each year – boosting the local economy in our community. We will regenerate a mismanaged, long forgotten and overgrown woodland into an urban oasis of biodiversity nestled between historic Bournville and artisan Stirchley.
Meet the team
John Christophers
John Christophers is a pioneering green architect, I work as a client design/sustainability adviser/champion, and on award-winning buildings, consultancy and urban regeneration. Through design, advice, teaching, environmental campaigning and conferences, I’ve always advocated sustainability, winning the national RIBA Sustainability Award in 2005.
After architectural training in Nottingham, I joined Associated Architects, rising to Partner/Director in 2000. I now work as a freelance consultant, focussing on my real passion – the intersection of design and sustainability.
In 2009 my Zero Carbon House became UK’s first retrofit to Code 6 zero carbon standard, with RIBA & Civic Trust awards. The Times commented, “I’ve seen the future – and it’s in Birmingham.”
In collaboration with Civic Square, Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) and Dark Matter, we created RETROFIT REIMAGINED festival in Birmingham 2022, envisioning how domestic deep retrofit could be transformational as a community-led neighbourhood project. With a local community group, Retrofit Balsall Heath, we are helping to lead this change in our diverse inner-city area.
I’m happy to be involved in the most exciting of projects in Bournville & Stirchley
Recent interview, AJ Climate Champions podcast
Lee Blake, Jimmy Hewson & Mo Jones
Lee Blake, Jimmy Hewson and Mo Jones are long-time friends who have decided to go on an amazing journey together to create an Eco Village in the very heart of Birmingham. They will also be working with a great bunch of people from all walks of life and together, they will make history. But who are they…
Social Entrepreneur and local businessman. Lee’s first property was in Stirchley and his first son was born here. Lee currently lives in Moseley but would love to build this Eco Village and move back ‘home’. Lee is a former youth and community worker who spent years running a social enterprise teaching entrepreneurial skills to young people. Lee is particularly excited by the thought of building and helping to run Stirchley Eco Education and Community Hub.
Lee said “Let’s help consolidate Stirchley’s reputation as Birmingham’s Social Enterprise capital.”
Business partners since 1996, Jimmy & Mo were pioneering in the ticketing industry, being one of the first to introduce e-ticketing and eliminate the need to print and post tickets. The business has flourished and working hand-in-hand with not-for-profit movement, Ecolibrium they built the UK’s first Carbon Calculator, engaging audiences as to the impact of travel emissions. Since the launch in 2017, they have raised over £50,000 which has balanced 984 tonnes of CO2e – the equivalent of nearly 3,400,000 average car miles. In addition to this, Jimmy and Mo have a small portfolio of 25 properties spanning from Scotland to Birmingham and they are excited to be able to inject their wealth of knowledge into Bournville Eco Village.
Jimmy said “I was born at the QE Hospital in Birmingham and I have lived in Selly Oak for over 30 years. I am honoured to be involved in creating Birminghams’ first Eco Village right on my doorstep and to be able to give something so amazing back to the community.”
Mo said “From working closely with organisations like Shambala Festival and Ecolibrium, watching how sustainability can be engaging and positive, I am excited at the opportunity to demonstrate how sustainable construction can work for small development sites and also to share the journey and engage a whole new generation of environment-conscious youngsters.”
JAG GURU
Cre8ive Eco
Cre8ive Eco are a local one-stop for all things Eco Housing, with a talented team of designers, architects, and planners who are passionate about sustainability. Their expertise in the field allows them to provide customers with the best possible solutions, making them an ideal partner for those who are looking to build or remodel their homes with an eco-friendly mindset. They are excited to be part on BEV & SEECH.
Darren Hutton
Choose Eco
Choose Eco specialises in full consultancy, offering a range of products and services to help upgrade existing properties and maximise energy efficiency for new builds. Their offerings include Energy Efficiency Consulting, Renewable Technologies, Aton Green Storage, Solar PV & Battery Storage, Air & Ground Source Heat Pumps, Infra Red Heating, Flexible Solar Panels and Energy Efficient Home Upgrades.
Kevin Slack
Greenspace
Greenspace has a wealth of experience in constructing stunning eco-friendly homes and buildings, with the most recent example being the one situated in the Unesco World Heritage site close to Ironbridge Gorge – an area with similar topography to BEV. Not only is this a remarkable achievement, but it also showcases Greenspace’s expertise and commitment to sustainability.
Rachel Hepburn
RH Ecological Services
RH Ecological services are a specialist ecologist company who investigate potential methods of woodland management that are both sympathetic to the environment and feasible during the development process, both during the construction phase and the operational phase. Striking a balance between development and conservation.
Located in the heart of the UK
Bournville Eco Village
Bournville train station (0.1 miles)
Nearest main bus route on the Pershore Road (0.5 miles)
Stirchley (0.6 miles)
Cadbury World (1.2 miles)
Birmingham University (2.3 miles)
Edgbaston Cricket Ground (2.4 miles)
Birmingham New Street Station / Grand Central (4.2 miles)
M6 (7.7 miles)
Birmingham Airport (10.9 miles)
M42 (11 miles)
NEC / Resorts World (11.1 miles)
Bournville Eco Village
Bournville Train Station
Pershore Road Bus Stop
Stirchley
Cadbury World
Birmingham University
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Birmingham New Street
M6 Motorway
Birmingham Airport
M42 Motorway
NEC / Resorts World
The History of the Woods
This once beautiful, tranquile and long forgotten woodland was previously owned by the Cadbury Family and has been left untouched for over 100 years. Nestled between Bournville and Stirchley, this 3.5 acres of land used to boast luscious green spaces, a variety of trees and be home to diverse wildlife. Unfortunately it has now become a hive of anti-social behaviour including; fly tipping, drug use, people sleeping rough, locals chopping down trees to use as firewood and teenagers drinking and shouting late at night. Bourn Brook runs along the bottom of the woods and a beautiful walk that once linked the canal to Stirchley has been lost to many dead trees and overgrown bushes. It is our dream to continue the Cadbury Family legacy and reopen this secret wood so that the local community and visitors from all over the UK can enjoy the surroundings, play, work and live here for years to come.
We anticipate that day trippers to Cadbury World, dog walkers, joggers and families would make good use of the wood everyday. We will effectively create a new, stunning space where people will congregate, talk, exercise and be social.
Bourn Brook
Bournville canal
View up Sparrey Drive
Bournville Lane entrance
Our woods are not a dumping ground
Unfortunately, our woods have now become a hive of anti-social behaviour including; fly tipping, drug use, people sleeping rough, locals chopping down trees to use as firewood and teenagers drinking and shouting late at night. Our development will have public realm space at its heart, opening up a beautiful walk linking to the canal and train station. Instead of old mattresses, used needles and fridges, we will create open public spaces where people will congregate, excercise and walk dogs. Families will explore the enriched biodiversity that our well managed woodland will bring.
The big eco-build
To even consider developing a woodland initially seems at odds with a conservation outlook, which is why picking the right build to sustain the natural environment is fundamental. This space deserves a sympathetic approach and our ambition will see desperately needed new eco homes provided, from 1-bed to 4 bed with provision for social housing too. Sustainability is key and at every possible opportunity, we will utilise the latest eco technologies to ensure the build becomes an exemplar to carbon neutral communities.
We will utilise cutting edge renewable technologies such as; ground source heat pumps, triple glazing, flexible solar panels and locally prefabricated modern methods of construction all aimed at delivering first class eco-homes that are future proof. Along the way, we plan to engage with local schools and youth groups to share our vision and learning and to demonstrate how building green from the start pays dividends in the long run, with the new home owners having extremely low running costs. We want to be proud of what we achieve and make sure the local community is glad we have chosen this site for the project.
Click image to view larger version
Phase 1
The Secret Woods
Hidden away for decades, these woods are under-utilised and badly managed. The initial ecological report highlights that for the last 50 years, self sown trees have been allowed to grow unabated, stealing light and growing too big, diminishing the variety of flora and fauna. As a result, low quality Sycamore trees dominate the landscape, which are reaching maturity and will start to die, causing problems to other trees, any walkers and nearby properties. Our arboricultural consultant agrees that the majority of category U trees should be removed for the greater good of the woodland. We plan to sensitively build around the B rated trees which will thrive given more space and light. The Secret Woods will be home to up to 6, 3 storey sustainably built eco houses magically floating on stilts with undercover car parking. Linked by a private road off Sparrey Drive, these inspiring structures will become part of the surrounding woodland, blending in with the landscape. A public foot / bike path with disabled access, a treetop canopy walk bridge and an outdoor natural gym situated on the banks of Bourn Brook are all part of the overall plan.
Phase 2
Stirchley Eco Education &
Community Hub
Lessons learned and technology employed on the build should be shared, so as part of the community development element, we intend to build an eco education and community hub.
The brand new visitor attraction will be owned by a Community Interest Company with any surplus revenue being reinvested into environmental projects across Birmingham.
Functionality to be imagined alongside user groups but likely to include;
- Co working space – Reducing city commutes for those needing desk space
- Business incubator space – Encouraging shared ideas and entrepreneurship
- Community rooms – Subsidised, bookable room hire for groups and individuals
- Community cafe / coffee shop
- Eco-education centre – Sharing knowledge and providing contacts
- Accommodation above – Schools, Scouts, Youth groups and tourists will be able to stay
- Cycle hire
- Car pool
- Fruit orchard
- Bee hives
SEECH will be a unique eco-led education and community hub, resulting in more visitors staying longer and spending more in the local community – increasing economic activity and providing jobs for local people. We plan to educate thousands of people each year on the benefits of carbon neutrality.
Phase 3
Stilted Treehouses & Eco-Pods
The third and final phase will be to better utilise the wasteland on both sides of Sparrey Drive that are part of this development site.
Using modern methods of construction and as much locally sourced material as possible, we’ll build eco-pods and stilted tree houses to counter the hilly terrain. Varying in size, these could be used for temporary accommodation for day visitors wishing to stay overnight as well as social and affordable housing to give everyone the opportunity to benefit from this development.
We will also be discussing potential projects with the local nursery, which backs-on to this part of the site.
We will attract people to Birmingham. We will have the world class Bournville Eco Village, Stirchley Eco & Community Hub, Stirchley Coop, Bournville Village Trust all a short distance walk or bike ride away. Less than 2 miles away we have the UK’s first RetroFit Zero Carbon House. We want to help build Birmingham’s Green Economy and push Carbon positive living. We could host Eco Conferences each year and open days, building on the fantastic work Zero Carbon house started.
Cadbury Factory and canal
Entrance to the wood
Opposite Bournville train station
Top of Sparrey Drive
The Next Step
By now, you will have a better understanding of the opportunities that this plot of land has to offer and also the exciting flexibility that it presents. There are a number of ways that we can approach this project but with your help, we can identify exactly what our community and Birmingham needs. Whether it is residential homes, commercial spaces or a mix of both, we need to carefully plan and build this unique village to a very high standard and in the most sustainable way possible. Please contact Lee at info@bournvilleecovillage.co.uk and let us know how you’d like to get involved.
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to get involved in any part of this exciting project or if you simply have some feedback or ideas that you’d like to share. Maybe you are a local resident and you have some questions. Please fill out the form below or call Lee on the number above.
