Springthorpe Green Estate: Detailed Update Following Sanctuary Housing Response

What this update is about

Over recent months, residents of Springthorpe Green Estate have rightly raised concerns regarding the condition of the estate, environmental issues, maintenance standards, security concerns, waste management, pest activity and the overall quality of the living environment.

Following numerous conversations with residents and a joint inspection of the estate involving Sanctuary Housing representatives, I undertook further correspondence with Sanctuary Housing to seek both immediate action on urgent issues and a detailed update on longer-term improvement plans. This article provides a full account of that correspondence, the response received, and what residents should expect in the coming weeks and months.

The background

Concerns raised with me by residents over recent months included:

• Graffiti across apartment blocks and communal areas
• Overflowing bins and waste accumulation
• Rat and pest concerns
• Anti-social behaviour and environmental issues
• Security concerns relating to communal entrances and door-entry systems
• A basketball/netball stand installed on the estate which some residents believed was causing nuisance and disturbance
• Damp, mould and ventilation issues within some homes
• Questions regarding a historic Springthorpe Green action plan reportedly developed around 2016

To better understand these issues, a joint estate inspection was undertaken with Sanctuary Housing representatives during September 2026. During that visit, residents' concerns were discussed directly on site and a number of potential improvement measures were identified.

9 October 2026: Request for immediate action

Following the inspection, I wrote to Sanctuary Housing on 9 October 2026.

My correspondence focused particularly on the need for:

• Immediate removal of graffiti identified during the joint inspection
• Progress updates on actions discussed during the site visit
• Clarification regarding environmental improvements
• Information about a previous action plan residents recalled from around 2016
• Timescales for addressing ongoing concerns affecting the estate

At that stage, I stressed that residents wanted to see visible improvements on the ground alongside longer-term plans being developed.

22 October 2026: Further follow-up correspondence

As residents continued to raise concerns, a further follow-up communication was sent requesting additional information and seeking reassurance that the matters identified during the inspection were continuing to receive attention. The purpose of the follow-up was to ensure that actions discussed during the inspection were not lost within longer-term planning processes and that residents received clear information regarding progress.

23 October 2026: Sanctuary Housing's detailed response

On 23 October 2026, Sanctuary Housing provided a comprehensive written response from their Regional Customer Services Manager for the Midlands. Sanctuary confirmed that several actions had already been completed whilst others were either underway or entering planning stages.

Graffiti removal

One of the most immediate concerns raised by residents was graffiti across communal areas and apartment blocks.

Sanctuary confirmed that following the September inspection, its contractor attended the estate and carried out graffiti-removal works during late September. The organisation acknowledged that some graffiti remained after those works were completed. As a result, Sanctuary advised that a further order had now been raised covering all six apartment blocks. The contractor has been instructed to remove as much of the remaining graffiti as possible from communal areas throughout the estate. This was identified by Sanctuary as one of the immediate actions intended to improve the appearance of the estate while broader improvement plans continue.

Basketball / netball stand investigation

Concerns were also raised regarding the basketball/netball stand located on the estate.

Sanctuary advised that, following enquiries, they were not currently aware of any permission having been granted by the housing provider for the installation of the equipment. The organisation confirmed that its local Housing Officer would investigate the circumstances surrounding the installation and consider concerns raised by residents relating to its location, noise levels and impact on nearby properties.

Historic 2016 action plan

Residents have repeatedly referred to an earlier estate action plan believed to date from approximately 2016.

In response to my enquiries, Sanctuary confirmed that investigations had been undertaken to locate records of this historic plan. However, they stated that they had been unable to locate any surviving documentation or records relating to it. Sanctuary explained that significant organisational, staffing and system changes had occurred during the intervening decade and they were therefore unable to verify what actions had been contained within that earlier plan or determine whether it had been completed, superseded or formally closed.

While this will be disappointing for residents who remember the previous initiative, Sanctuary stated that its current focus is on progressing and monitoring the actions identified during the recent estate review and joint inspection.

Damp, mould and ventilation issues

Damp and mould concerns were specifically raised during my correspondence.

Sanctuary confirmed that a Maintenance Surveyor had been scheduled to attend a Springthorpe Green property on 27 October 2026 to undertake a detailed inspection of reported issues. The inspection is intended to assess underlying causes, identify any remedial works required and allow those works to be progressed where necessary.

Waste management improvements

Waste management remains one of the most significant concerns affecting the estate.

Sanctuary advised that an agreement had been reached to create two new hardstanding areas for communal bins. These new areas are intended to enable Birmingham City Council to provide increased refuse capacity and reduce problems associated with overflowing bins and accumulated waste. The housing provider stated that the proposed locations will place bins further away from residential blocks whilst also supporting wider pest-control efforts. Quotations for these works were expected to be returned on 28 October 2026.

The organisation additionally confirmed that it is reviewing whether existing bin stores could potentially be converted for alternative resident use, including secure bicycle and pushchair storage.

Pest control programme

Residents will particularly welcome confirmation that Sanctuary has moved towards a coordinated estate-wide approach to pest management.

The organisation stated that residents had previously been contacted to assess pest activity and arrange access where necessary. Sanctuary has subsequently appointed a pest-control contractor to deliver a coordinated twelve-month treatment programme covering all six apartment blocks. According to Sanctuary, this approach is intended to move away from isolated reactive treatments and establish longer-term monitoring, prevention and control measures.

CCTV proposals

Sanctuary also confirmed that proposals relating to CCTV are progressing.

The organisation advised that provision for CCTV has been included within future budget planning and that proposed coverage would include:

• The large grassed area between apartment blocks
• Areas surrounding the proposed new communal bin locations
• Potential coverage of the car park adjacent to Block 99

The stated objectives are to deter fly-tipping, improve security and provide reassurance to residents.

Communal security improvements

Concerns regarding security and door-entry systems were also addressed.

Sanctuary confirmed that entrance doors and communal door-entry systems have been submitted for consideration under a future reinvestment programme. Funding approvals have not yet been confirmed, although routine repairs will continue under existing maintenance responsibilities.

Resident engagement commitments

Sanctuary Housing acknowledged the importance of ongoing resident engagement.

The organisation confirmed that its Housing Officer has committed to carrying out regular estate walkabouts with a resident interested in supporting improvements across the community. Sanctuary also advised that it is exploring arrangements for a further resident engagement event during November. The purpose would be to provide updates on progress, explain future stages of the improvement programme and answer questions from residents.

How residents can report problems

Sanctuary Housing has encouraged residents to report issues directly so that they can be formally logged and referred to the appropriate teams for action.

Customer Services Hub Email: midlandscontactus@sanctuary.co.uk

Residents are encouraged to report:

• Communal repairs
• Graffiti
• Fly-tipping
• Waste management concerns
• Pest activity
• Security issues
• Anti-social behaviour concerns
• Other communal area problems

What residents should expect next

While many residents will understandably feel frustrated that some longstanding concerns remain unresolved, Sanctuary Housing's response does provide confirmation that a number of important actions are now either underway or progressing through planning and budget processes.

In the immediate future, residents should expect to see further graffiti-removal works taking place across all six apartment blocks, continued investigation into concerns surrounding the basketball/netball stand, and the commencement of the new estate-wide pest-control programme. Updates are also expected regarding the creation of additional communal bin hardstanding areas once quotations have been assessed and approved.

Over the coming months, attention will turn towards longer-term improvements, including CCTV installation proposals, communal security enhancements, ongoing environmental improvements and further resident-engagement opportunities. The scheduled damp and mould inspection will also help inform any necessary remedial works within affected properties.

Whilst some proposals remain subject to funding approvals and procurement processes, Sanctuary has now provided a clearer indication of the direction of travel for the estate than has previously been available. It will be important that residents continue reporting issues as they arise so that concerns are formally recorded and can be included within the organisation's ongoing monitoring and improvement programmes.

As your local Ward Councillor, I will continue to monitor progress closely, maintain dialogue with Sanctuary Housing and seek regular updates on the actions outlined above. Residents have been instrumental in highlighting these issues and ensuring they receive the attention they deserve. I remain committed to working alongside residents, Sanctuary Housing, Birmingham City Council and other relevant agencies to secure the improvements needed to make Springthorpe Green Estate a cleaner, safer and more attractive place to live.

I will provide further updates as additional information becomes available and following any future resident engagement meetings or estate inspections.

Cllr Danny Carter, Member for Pype Hayes, Birmingham City Council