Billesley, West Midlands
Encyclopedia
Billesley is a ward within the council constituency and parliamentary constituency
of Selly Oak
, Birmingham
, England
. It is 7 kilometres (4 mi) south of the city centre and includes the areas Billesley, Highters Heath, Maypole (part), Warstock and Yardley Wood. It is contiguous with the Birmingham wards Brandwood on the west, Moseley & Kings Heath on the north west, Springfield on the north east and Hall Green on the east. To the south is the Shirley West ward of Solihull.
The expansion of the area began in 1921 with the commencement of construction of the Billesley Estates. Two districts began to form within Billesley; one on the former Ivy House Farm and the other on the former Billesley Farm. By 1926, between 15 to 20 families were moving into Billesley each week and it became one of Birmingham's first council estates.
Billesley is not an ethnically diverse area with ethnic minorities representing 12.3% (3,312) of the ward's population compared with 29.6% for Birmingham. 8.4% of the population was born outside of the United Kingdom, lower than the Birmingham average of 16.5% and slightly lower than the national average of 9.3%. 88.1% of the population was classed as being in the broad ethnic group of White. This is higher than the Birmingham average of 70.4% yet lower than the national average of 90.9%. The Asian ethnic group was the second largest in the ward at 6.2%, below the city average of 19.5% yet higher than the national average of 4.6%. More specifically, the White British ethnic group was the largest at 83.2% and the White Irish was the second largest at 4.2%. The predominant religion in the ward is Christianity
, with 71.8% of the population of the ward identifying themselves as Christians. This is near to the national average of 71.9% however is greater than the city average of 59.1%. 13.8% stated that they had no religion and 7.8% did not answer the question.
27.6% of the population was noted to be in the 25-44 age group, below the Birmingham average of 28.3% and the national average of 29.3%. People of a pensionable age represented 19.3% of the ward's population, above that of 16.7% for the city. 57.2% of the population was of a working age, below the city average of 59.8%. 63% of the population had a job whilst 8.2% was unemployed, below the city average of 9.5% yet above the national average of 5%. Of the unemployed, 36.5% were in long term unemployment and 11.2% had never worked. 17.9% of those with a job, worked in the manufacturing sector. 17.1% worked in the Wholesale & Retail Trade, Vehicle Repairs sector. The largest employer for the ward is National Express West Midlands
who employ approximately 460 people.
The majority of housing is either inter-war or post-war build. 99% of residents live in households whilst 1% live in communal establishments. There was a total of 10,514 households that were occupied resulting in an average of 2.4 people per house, equal to that of the national average. 63.8% of occupied houses were occupied by the owner, above the city average of 60.4%. 26.3% of occupied houses were rented from Birmingham City Council. 354 were stated as being vacant. The majority of the housing in the ward was stated as being semi-detached (42.9%) whilst terraced houses were the second most common (32.4%).
/Madrasa in Billesley (Green Masjid and Madrasa) at the former GP premises of Greenridge Surgery was delayed allegedly because of opposition both by local residents and by BNP (British National Party) activists. A planning application Number 2008/04874/PA by Green Masjid Madrassa Committee for 713 Yardley Wood Road B13 0PT registered 17 September 2008 was withdrawn 20 October 2008. As of 13 July 2010, no planning applications for a similar use for property in Yardley Wood Road are recorded on the Birmingham City planning website.
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Selly Oak
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is 7 kilometres (4 mi) south of the city centre and includes the areas Billesley, Highters Heath, Maypole (part), Warstock and Yardley Wood. It is contiguous with the Birmingham wards Brandwood on the west, Moseley & Kings Heath on the north west, Springfield on the north east and Hall Green on the east. To the south is the Shirley West ward of Solihull.
The expansion of the area began in 1921 with the commencement of construction of the Billesley Estates. Two districts began to form within Billesley; one on the former Ivy House Farm and the other on the former Billesley Farm. By 1926, between 15 to 20 families were moving into Billesley each week and it became one of Birmingham's first council estates.
Etymology
The name derives from an Anglo-Saxon named Bill who established himself within the area. -Ley means "woodland clearing" and a woodland clearing is known to have existed in Billesley north of Chinn Brook.Demography
The 2001 Population Census found that 25,874 people were living in the area with a population density of 4,537 people per km² compared with 3,649 people per km² for Birmingham. Billesley has an area of 6.4 km²/ 566.2 hectares. Females represented 52% of the population, compared with 51.6% for the whole of Birmingham.Billesley is not an ethnically diverse area with ethnic minorities representing 12.3% (3,312) of the ward's population compared with 29.6% for Birmingham. 8.4% of the population was born outside of the United Kingdom, lower than the Birmingham average of 16.5% and slightly lower than the national average of 9.3%. 88.1% of the population was classed as being in the broad ethnic group of White. This is higher than the Birmingham average of 70.4% yet lower than the national average of 90.9%. The Asian ethnic group was the second largest in the ward at 6.2%, below the city average of 19.5% yet higher than the national average of 4.6%. More specifically, the White British ethnic group was the largest at 83.2% and the White Irish was the second largest at 4.2%. The predominant religion in the ward is Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, with 71.8% of the population of the ward identifying themselves as Christians. This is near to the national average of 71.9% however is greater than the city average of 59.1%. 13.8% stated that they had no religion and 7.8% did not answer the question.
27.6% of the population was noted to be in the 25-44 age group, below the Birmingham average of 28.3% and the national average of 29.3%. People of a pensionable age represented 19.3% of the ward's population, above that of 16.7% for the city. 57.2% of the population was of a working age, below the city average of 59.8%. 63% of the population had a job whilst 8.2% was unemployed, below the city average of 9.5% yet above the national average of 5%. Of the unemployed, 36.5% were in long term unemployment and 11.2% had never worked. 17.9% of those with a job, worked in the manufacturing sector. 17.1% worked in the Wholesale & Retail Trade, Vehicle Repairs sector. The largest employer for the ward is National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
who employ approximately 460 people.
The majority of housing is either inter-war or post-war build. 99% of residents live in households whilst 1% live in communal establishments. There was a total of 10,514 households that were occupied resulting in an average of 2.4 people per house, equal to that of the national average. 63.8% of occupied houses were occupied by the owner, above the city average of 60.4%. 26.3% of occupied houses were rented from Birmingham City Council. 354 were stated as being vacant. The majority of the housing in the ward was stated as being semi-detached (42.9%) whilst terraced houses were the second most common (32.4%).
Local disputes
A project for a change of use to a MosqueMosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
/Madrasa in Billesley (Green Masjid and Madrasa) at the former GP premises of Greenridge Surgery was delayed allegedly because of opposition both by local residents and by BNP (British National Party) activists. A planning application Number 2008/04874/PA by Green Masjid Madrassa Committee for 713 Yardley Wood Road B13 0PT registered 17 September 2008 was withdrawn 20 October 2008. As of 13 July 2010, no planning applications for a similar use for property in Yardley Wood Road are recorded on the Birmingham City planning website.