Center of Falcon Lodge pre-tower block demolition
Falcon Lodge is a postwar housing estate in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Construction began in the mid 1950s and progressed through the 1960s, covering a substantial area of former farmland in the east of Sutton Coldfield . To the south is Walmley , west is Reddicap Heath , north Whitehouse Common and east is the countryside of Langley Heath and Wishaw.
The majority of the buildings are terraced housing with some semi-detached. There is also a heavy presence of 3 storey flats around the centre of Falcon Lodge, with a total of 30 maisonettes. The estate had a tower block at its centre close to the row of shops called Brook House, but has since been replaced by modern houses. It was demolished in the 1990s due to social problems. The tower's proximity to the Brook stream that runs through the centre of the estate ultimately led to severe subsidence and flooding in the tower block and tenants being forced to move. The towers were left derelict for a number of years while youths often entertained themselves in and around the premises. In the early-mid 1990s the tower block was finally cleared along with a nearby school. Extensive work was also carried out on the Brook as undergrowth had grown out of control along with fly tipping. A new footpath leads throught the Brook now and the stream is cleaner.
Three other tower blocks similar to Brook House orthe Mount high rises in Reddicap Heath but darker, were constructed in the south of the estate on Stephen's Road. This is right next to where the newer Berryfields Estate would be constructed in the 1980s with its 2 new wide red brick tower blocks. The three tower blocks on Stephens Road began to fall into disrepair and by the end of the 1990s were pulled down as the newer Berryfields Estate provided fresh accommodation.
The estate has a local shopping centre called Churchill Parade and is also a terminus for buses running in the area. The shops are mainly independent and are located on only one side of the road in a 4 storey building with flats above them, whereas the buses terminate across the road where Brook House used to stand. Together with The Mount and Berryfields Estate, Falcon Lodge is part of the 3 estates forming a triangle around Reddicap Heath
Falcon Lodge's terrain is undulating therefore resulting in a variety of views of nearby countryside.