1. Increasing density in mature suburbs: Character, resistance and quality? Nick Morton and Peter J. Larkham School of Property, Construction and Planning Birmingham City University

2. Part 1: Defining the Territory

5. Imminent demolition, Sutton Coldfield, 2005

6. Redevelopment and marketing of large apartment blocks

7. A very “ordinary” product (but a developer with a sense of humour?)

10. Press Coverage: Sunday Telegraph , May 30 th 2004 Suburbs as brownfields

11. Leads to piecemeal and “unplanned” intensification Brookdene Drive, Northwood (Jones and Larkham, 1993)

12. New suburban landscape of apartment blocks …

13. … and often of stark contrasts in form

17. Impact of changing national policy guidelines: Suggestion from 2000 that new residential development should average 30-50 dwellings per hectare. DCLG (2008)

18. High profile media attention and often emotive debate

19. Public interest

23. Demolition of the oldest remaining house in Hall Green, 2008

24. Part 2: Intensification in the Birmingham region

25. High density and demand in the West Midlands region

28. Planning decisions by year New dwelling construction in Sutton Coldfield n=87 n=81 n=70 n=79 n=92

29. Number of dwellings proposed for demolition Associated with new dwelling construction in Sutton Coldfield n=96 n=43 n=47 n=74 n=65

30. Applications for residential development in Four Oaks, 2003-6

31. Redevelopment sites since 2000, opposite Four Oaks Conservation Area

32. Location map of one example in Sutton Coldfield showing conservation area (red) and existing infill (pale green).

33. Sequential applications for demolition and intensification immediately adjoining the conservation area

36. The new intensively-infilled urban landscape

37. A series of back gardens - Before Example 1: Jordan Road, Sutton Coldfield

38. After

39. The next proposed development sites

40. The first proposal

41. The amended, higher-density proposal

42. Part 3: Community and policy responses

44. Politicisation

45. Public response: local press coverage from Solihull News and Sutton Coldfield Observer

47. Even at the very localised – neighbourhood - level

51. Overview

58. And, finally … the ultimate low-impact infill? An underground bedsit