Central City News: Masterplan for the loop surfaces; LADYWOOD: Bid for redevelopment of reservoir set to be unveiled.

Byline: By Poppy Brady

A MASTERPLAN for the largest regeneration project that Birmingham has seen since the building of Brindley place is about to be unveiled.

The long-awaited redevelopment of the Icknield Port canal loop and Edgbaston Reservoir is a partnership scheme shared by Advantage West Midlands, the ISIS Waterside Regeneration company and the city council.

The redundant Tower Ballroom site on the shores of the reservoir has been the subject of a separate controversial planning proposal, which has been thwarted for the time being after the council's cabinet refused to extend the site's 30-year lease.

Residents are fighting on in their campaign to preserve the Tower Ballroom site for leisure use in the hope that a replacement swimming baths for the area may yet be built there.

Ladywood councillor Sir Albert Bore said: "We are seeking cabinet agreement to bring together the three land owners - AWM, ISIS and the city council - into a partnership that will take this development forward.

"I realise these are frustrating times because there has been a lot of anticipation surrounding this scheme. A report will be brought to cabinet in the next few weeks."

All three Labour councillors in Ladywood are now pushing for the development of the Tower Ballroom site to be included in the overall masterplan for the regeneration of the Icknield Port Loop.

The regeneration project could take up to ten years to complete.

In the meantime local people are asking for areas where demolition has taken place in and around Icknield Port Road to be grassed over and used as public open space for the community.

CAPTION(S):

LEISURE DEBATE... Edgbaston Reservoir and the Tower Ballroom. (Inset) Sir Albert Bore.