Area Overview for Bordesley & Highgate Ward

Canal, road and rail bridges in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
The Bond (not James) in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
The Bond, Fazeley Street in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Former Church, Watery Lane in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Maxstoke Road from Garrison Lane in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Bordesley Junction, Grand Union Canal in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Bordesley - Canal Junction in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Garrison Circus, A4540 Watery Lane, Birmingham in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
River Rea From Fazeley Street in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
St Basils Centre, Heath Mill Lane in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Bordesley Circus looking up the Coventry Road towards St Andrews in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
Bordesley in Bordesley & Highgate Ward
100 photos from this area

Area Information

Living in Bordesley & Highgate Ward means residing in a compact urban district of just 3.9 km² located immediately east of Birmingham city centre. This electoral ward, formed on 1 December 2017, encompasses the historic areas of Highgate, Bordesley, Digbeth, and Deritend. You are stepping into one of Birmingham's oldest neighbourhoods, situated within the Birmingham Ladywood UK Parliament constituency. The population here stands at 1,051 people, creating a relatively small-scale community despite its central location. The area derives its name from Old English meaning 'Bord's clearing', indicating agricultural origins dating back to the 7th century. While the manor passed through feudal hands since 850, Bordesley became a bedroom suburb by 1838. Today, the ward includes significant industrial history, such as the former Artillery Street Paint and Varnish Works established in 1910. You will find yourself near Garrison Lane School, which operated from 1873 until 1959, and the historic Ada Street Board School. Modern life here balances proximity to the city's core with a strong connection to deep-rooted local heritage and manufacturing roots. The ward serves as an integral part of the council's borough unitary structure, offering residents direct access to urban facilities while maintaining distinct residential character.

Area Type
District Borough Unitary Ward
Area Size
3.9 km²
Population
1051
Population Density
268 people/km²

Demographics

The community profile of Bordesley & Highgate Ward is defined by a distinctly older population. The median age here reaches 70 years, indicating a neighbourhood populated largely by seniors. You are likely to encounter residents drawn from all age ranges, yet the demographic skew is heavily weighted toward retirement. With only 1,051 residents spread across 3.9 km², the population density calculates to 268 people per square kilometre. This figure suggests a moderately populated urban environment rather than a high-density city core. Home ownership presents a notable statistic for the area. Just 24% of households in Bordesley & Highgate Ward own their homes outright or with a mortgage. This low figure implies that the majority of residents live in rented accommodation or housing returns. While specific data on household composition and predominant ethnic groups are not detailed in current records, the age profile strongly suggests a quiet, settled demographic. The area does not host the typical family-centric age structure found in outer suburbs. Instead, the social fabric revolves around an older cohort. Buyers seeking properties should expect a community where retirement and long-term tenancy dominate the social landscape, rather than transient family life or young professional enclaves.

Household Size

total
most common

Accommodation Type

total
most common

Tenure

24
majority

Ethnic Group

total
most common

Religion

total
most common

Household Composition

total
most common

Age

70
median
Age: Total
most common

Household Deprivation

N/A
with no deprivation

NS-SEC

22
in Lower managerial occupations

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Planning

Planning Constraints

  • Flood Risk
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  • Ramsar Wetland Sites
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  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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  • Protected Nature Reserve
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  • Protected Woodland
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  • Crime Risk
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