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
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
Existing Name, (approved, built).
(Parts of some of the houses were approved after they were built) NameStarted buildingFinished buildingHodgson Tower19681971This 20-storey tower block on Guildford Drive stands as one of the largest remaining structures from the northern sector of the original master plan.Baldwin House19651968Inkerman House19661965Unique 15-storey block constructed directly on top of the Newtown Shopping Centre.Sadler House19661965Fallows House19651968James House19661965Lloyd House19661965Reynolds House19661969Built as a 13-storey twin profile on Newbury Road with Manton House.Thornton House19651968Weston House19651968Manton House19661969Built as a 13-storey twin profile on Newbury Road with Reynolds House.
Houses in the St George's housing estate NameStarted buildingFinished buildingHolland House19631964Bowater House19631964Cadbury House19631964Ryland House19631964Teviot Tower19601962Rea Tower19601962Geach Tower19631965Scholefield Tower19631965Martineau Tower19631965
Demolished NameBuiltDemolishedWiggin Towerc.19702002Brooks Towerc.19702002Clyde Tower19672006Cornwall Tower19702014Bower Housec.19701998Sayer Housec.19701998White Housec.19701998Hertford Housec.1970c.1990s - 2006The demolition of Hertford House was a phased clearance.
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Demographics
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.
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