Birmingham’s Conservative councillors have today formally called in the Labour-run City Council’s controversial decision to sell prime development land at Fox Street in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter, warning that the move undermines the city’s long-term regeneration ambitions, ignores vital strategic opportunities and fails to deliver increased employment, Business Rates or Council Tax income for the city longer term. In short the Labour Council is jeopardising the longer term financial stability of Birmingham City Council’s revenue budget over the next decade for a short term one off capital injection a few weeks before the local elections. The site on Fox Street forms part of the proposed Knowledge Quarter yet is now being sold off for a different use.
The executive decision, taken by the Cabinet Committee on Property on 16 March, is now subject to a formal call-in request submitted to the Economy, Skills and Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Councillors Ewan Mackey (Con, Sutton Roughley) and Robert Alden (Con, Erdington) argue the sale fails basic tests of consistency with agreed policies, does not deliver best value and shows a failure to properly consider key factors.
In their call-in submission, the councillors state that the decision appears inconsistent with the policy intent of the Knowledge Quarter Agreement. This landmark partnership seeks to attract and grow life sciences, digital health, fintech and advanced manufacturing activity in the area. Selling the site for other purposes would limit the availability of developable land for these high-value, employment-generating uses and reduce the area’s capacity to expand in line with the agreed strategy.
The Conservatives also highlight an apparent failure to consult the other signatories to the Knowledge Quarter Agreement - Aston University, Birmingham City University, Bruntwood SciTech and Woodbourne Group - before the decision was taken. These key partners, who play a central role in shaping and delivering the Knowledge Quarter vision, were seemingly not given the opportunity to provide evidence on alternative uses that would better align with the strategy.
Further concerns centre on the apparent overlooking of critical considerations. The decision fails to assess the long-term financial impact of losing ongoing revenue from business rates and council tax, instead prioritising a one-off capital receipt over sustained income streams that alternative employment-focused uses could deliver. It also ignores the need for high-quality employment sites, the strategic opportunities linked to HS2, and the broader implications for the Council’s Knowledge Quarter plans, including potential future uses connected to Millennium Point.
Councillor Ewan Mackey said:
This rushed decision is yet another example of how Labour’s shiny glossy plans aren’t worth the paper they are written on and can’t be trusted at election time, they will just sell for a quick buck regardless of long-term opportunities for Birmingham.
Councillor Robert Alden added:
The Knowledge Quarter was meant to be a flagship project delivering real growth and jobs for our city. Even if the Council was not going to proceed with that plan, the site is located at the entrance to HS2’s new station. Selling it off now is a huge mistake. They should be seeking a global headquarters to relocate from London to this site and bring with it well paid jobs. Labour’s decision to sell off prime land without proper consultation or consideration of the wider economic benefits shows a dangerous lack of strategic vision. We are calling on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to step in and hold the Executive to account before this irreversible mistake is made.
