Brum

The new-build Perry Barr estate, described by local people as a ghost town, with many flats standing empty for more than a year, was intended to be an athletes’ village for the Commonwealth Games, which Birmingham hosted in 2022.

Due to delays caused by Covid, the development was not completed in time for the event so athletes were housed in student accommodation. The council said the Perry Barr apartments would become homes for local people instead.

But the properties have sat empty for months, with the council unable to sell them due to a lack of “market appetite” for one- and two-bedroom apartments in the area, and issues with mortgage providers valuing the properties at less than they were being sold for.

A report presented to the council’s cabinet last week said selling off 755 properties to a private bidder, who has yet to be named, would result in a “significant loss to the public purse” but was the best outcome.
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The council has spent £325m on the development, of which £292m was borrowed. After selling off the homes, it is expected that £142m-£152m of debt will remain unpaid, costing £8m-£9m a year over a 40-year period to repay, taking the projected total loss in the region of £320m.

Birmingham has been named the UK’s smelliest city with an average of 50 'smell complaints' made each month. Birmingham City Council received 1,916 odour complaints between January 1, 2021, and February 29, 2024, according to new FOI data.

That makes the city potentially the most pungent in the UK - with Glasgow coming in at second place with 1,420 complaints during the same period. Brummies, according to the data sent to nicotine firm Alternix, reguarly complained about the stench of 'cheesy feet'.

This was found to be due to 'manure spreading' following a joint probe by the council, neighbouring authorities, UKHSA and The Environment Agency into the smell.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/13746648

Spokesperson says aircraft has landed safely and all passengers and crew have disembarked

Archived version: https://archive.ph/xoZqG

Ministers have announced commissioners will run Birmingham city council as part of a series of drastic emergency measures for the country’s largest authority, which has in effect declared itself bankrupt.

On 5 September the council issued a section 114 notice stating it did not have the resources to balance its budget because of a series of problems including a spiralling equal pay bill and IT failures.

I know this isn't a Birmingham City football community but I think it's interesting and positive for the city that such a big name has invested in BCFC. It's another chance to get the city on the map, give it some more positive coverage. And if it works and the new club owners, including Brady, are able to get City back to the Premier League it's got to be good for the city right?

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/[email protected]/t/267178

The upper floors of the car park are to be turned into vegetable plots and greenhouse space.

Ozzy the Commonwealth Bull is now being set up in his new home at New Street Station. Looking forward to seeing him next time I take a train into town. It's going to be quite the welcome for people arriving in Birmingham for the first time.

I haven't seen this yet as I wasn't much around for the commonwealth games.