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ACTIVISTS have formally filed a legal challenge to rescue the Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham’s iconic 1960s modernist gem.
In September, Birmingham Council, by a narrow one-vote margin, decided to demolish the building, paving the way for the construction of residential flats.
Campaign group Save Smallbrook Ringway are disputing the decision on the grounds that the planning committee was misled on the climate impact of the proposed demolition.
The group also say it was inaccurately stated that Historic England had no objection to the building’s demolition.
According to architect John Christophers, who is involved in the campaign, 187 million kg of CO2 would be released through the demolition and construction of new tower blocks.
He argues that repurposing Smallbrook Ringway would result in a “fraction” of these emissions.
Mary Keating, of Brutiful Birmingham, which seeks to celebrate the city’s “underappreciated post-war architecture,” highlighted that the building was designed by Birmingham native James Roberts, who designed the city’s Rotunda landmark.
She said: “We could be celebrating Smallbrook as the unique product of a son of Birmingham born and trained, who worked all his life in the city. Shouldn’t we be proud of this?”
