Acocks Green people living around Sherbourne Road Acocks Green were very sad when a set of fine Victorian houses: 1-7  Sherbourne Road were demolished a couple of years ago.  This is part of an patch of Acocks Green long ‘ear marked’ to form the core of a Conservation Area and we have frequently been asked what is now happening to the land there.   The company, Mighty Fine Developments, which bought the properties from E. H. Smith’s, Building Merchants, promised at the time that they would rebuild the frontages: along the lines of assurances they gave to Birmingham City Council Planning Department to reconstruct frontages only in original style.

It was also noted that building materials from the original buildings were being retained, and there  has now, for around two years or more, been a visual promise, also, in the form of this displayed notice:

which mentions eight four bedroom ‘high quality Victorian style houses’ – with frontages presumably to be as illustrated, above, here.  (Double clicking on our imges always enlarges.)

Well, it does appear to be happening: see below – double clicking will enlarge. It is difficult to get good photographs because the area is heavily fenced off to keep intruders out, which is understandable.  However, the buildings are now high enough to get some pictures.  What we note from this is that reclaimed bricks (hopefully the originals) seem to be being used.  We note also that arched windows are being used, and, although you have to look hard in this picture, there are proper brick arches above the windows.  Will these properly reproduce the original, much mourned, houses?   Too early to say yet, but we will be watching and living in hope.  Watch this space (and the houses, if you live near enough!) better pics as soon as we can get ‘em.

Meantime, whilst expressing (cautious) gratitude to Mighty Fine Developments for appearing to make some effort here, we are concerned to prevent any more heart stopping losses like these,  if we can.  We are currently in talks with our new local Conservation Officer, Dr Mike Hodder, and there will be a walk around Acocks Green to make a preliminary survey of the area in the next few weeks.  After that, watch out for a local public meeting to discuss our Community led  Conservation Area Scheme -  we will be putting together a new style  community Conservation Area proposal.  We will need all concerned local hands to the deck to help log everything in the chosen area.  Lets hang on to what we have left folks!

Porch 44 Flint Green Road - double click to enlarge

Ceiling Rose, 42 Flint Green Road - double click to enlarge

Hall Floor, 44 Flint Green Road - double click to enlarge

These two lovely houses in the centre of the proposed Conservation Area in Acocks Green are up for auction on 18 March, with John Shepherd, of Solihull.  You can link through here Viewings 1 – 3 pm most Wednesdays and Saturdays until the auction, we understand.  We need someone to buy these houses and restore them to their former glory.  They would make magnificent family homes, residential flats (already partly converted as such), other residential accommodation, guest houses or offices.   There may be planning permission for a development involving HALF the gardens of these houses.   This is under consideration. Planning have made it clear that they are NOT intending to give permission for further development.

Council Conservation think these houses are worth saving.  Local councillors and six local residents groups in the immediate area strongly agree.  Buy these houses and love them and you will win the love of the local people.  Buy these houses in order to demolish and build a  new development; you are in for a very costly, frustrating and time wasting exercise.  Be warned!!

More on our Flickr file here

We have also accumulated a number of  concerned recent comments on these buildings, which, for some reason, have been attached to an older posting – you will find that posting, and those comments here