Newtown, Birmingham

Newtown Newtown
Inner-city area and electoral ward
Scholefield Tower, Newtown
Newtown Location within the West Midlands
Population	16,289
• Density	7,529 per square kilometre.
OS grid reference	SP073882
Metropolitan borough	Birmingham
Metropolitan county	West Midlands
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Birmingham
Postcode district	B19
Dialling code	0121
Police	West Midlands
Fire	West Midlands
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Birmingham Ladywood
List of places UK England West Midlands 52°29′49″N 1°53′49″W / 52.497°N 1.897°W / 52.497; -1.897

Newtown is an inner-city area located north of Birmingham city centre, in the county of West Midlands, England. It is an electoral ward of Birmingham City Council and within the Birmingham Ladywood parliamentary constituency. Newtown ward is bordered by the Soho & Jewellery Quarter ward to the west and south-west, Lozells and Aston wards to the north, Nechells to the east and Ladywood to the south.

The quality of housing in the area deteriorated rapidly from the end of the Victorian period until the 1960s when some of the least favourable slum conditions in the city were to be found in Newtown.

History

Newtown, historically known as Aston New Town, underwent extensive redevelopment during the post-war period as part of Birmingham's programme of comprehensive slum clearance. Much of the Victorian terraced housing in south Aston was demolished during the 1960s and replaced by a modern council estate consisting of high-rise tower blocks, low-rise housing and the Newtown Shopping Centre. The redevelopment scheme was approved in 1968, and the completed estate included sixteen tower blocks, three of which were twenty storeys high.

Governance

Newtown is represented by one councillor on Birmingham City Council: Rasheda Begum of the Labour Party.

Geography

St George's Park
Tomb of Thomas Rickman (d. 1841)
Interactive map of St George's Park
Type	Urban park
Location	Newtown, Birmingham
Coordinates	52°29′30″N 1°54′15″W / 52.4916°N 1.9042°W / 52.4916; -1.9042
Area	1.93 hectares
Elevation	145m above sea level
Etymology	Named after St George's Church, the former Anglican church that occupied the site
Administrator	Birmingham City Council
Open	24/7
Terrain	Urban parkland
Habitats	Urban green space
Threatened by	Anti-social behaviour, littering
Other information	Former churchyard site

Newtown is centred on New Town Row, a section of the A34 road which runs from Birmingham City Centre through north-west Birmingham into Walsall; and part of the ring road around the centre of the city, the A4540.

Parks and open spaces

St George's Park is a public park in the district. Located on Great Hampton Row, it occupies the former site of St George's Church and its churchyard. The park was established following the demolition of the church in 1961 and preserves several historic monuments associated with the former parish, including the grade II-listed tomb of architect Thomas Rickman and a First World War memorial.

Regeneration

From the late 1990s, Newtown became the focus of a major regeneration programme known as the Newtown Area Initiative. The scheme included the demolition of several tower blocks considered no longer suitable for modern housing needs, including Wiggin Tower and Brooks Tower (which were demolished in 2002), alongside the construction of new homes, environmental improvements and community facilities. Remaining residential blocks such as Manton House and Reynolds House were refurbished as part of the wider renewal of the estate.

Regeneration has continued through subsequent housing and neighbourhood improvement programmes, with Birmingham City Council and its partners supporting new residential development, refurbishment of existing housing and investment in community infrastructure as part of the wider Aston, Newtown and Lozells regeneration strategy.

Tower blocks

Demographics

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Newtown has a diverse population, with residents from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The area has many community groups and local facilities that support residents through youth activities, education and neighbourhood projects. The district has developed a strong connection with Birmingham's African and Caribbean communities, reflected in local events, businesses, places of worship and community organisations.

The Legacy Centre of Excellence is one of the area's community venues, hosting cultural events, exhibitions, conferences and educational activities. Community-led initiatives and regeneration programmes have tried to improve public spaces, housing and facilities.

On the 2021 Census, the Newtown ward had a population of 16,289. The ward has a younger population than the Birmingham average, with 71.4% of residents aged between 16 and 64 years, while only 4.8% were aged 65 and over. Residents aged 18–24 accounted for 30.2% of the population. Newtown is one of Birmingham's most ethnically diverse wards. Also on the 2021 Census, 82.4% of residents as belonging to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, against Birmingham's 51.4% (average). The largest ethnic group was Black African (32.6%), followed by Bangladeshi (9.7%), Black Caribbean (9.4%), Pakistani (6.2%), Indian (5.6%), Mixed ethnic groups (4.9%), and White (17.6%).

Notable buildings

• The Bartons Arms – a grade II* listed Victorian pub built in 1901.
• Aston Hippodrome – opened in 1908 on Potters Lane.
• St Stephen's the Martyr's Church – built between 1842 and 1844 in an Early English Gothic style. It was designed by architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter.
• Legacy Centre of Excellence – a multi-purpose arts, education, and events centre.
• The Elbow Room

Notable residents

• Larry Wright (priest), former rector of St George's Newtown
• Pelé Reid, British heavyweight born in Newtown
• Saido Berahino, from Burundi, moved to Newtown, aged 10
• Marnz Malone, from Jamaica, moved to Newtown, aged 2.

References