About the Estate

Four Oaks Estate is a prestigious and historic private estate just to the north of Sutton Coldfield town centre and bordering Sutton Park.

From racecourse to residential estate

The land which today forms the Estate was used as a racecourse in the 1880s. Four Oaks Racecourse ceased operating around 1890 and the land was sold to the Marquess of Clanricarde, who laid out the Estate roads — Hartopp Road, Bracebridge Road, Luttrell Road, Ladywood Road and Wentworth Road. Construction of private homes commenced around 1895.

In 1986 Birmingham City Council designated the Four Oaks Conservation Area, recognising the character of the roads, the mature tree cover and the large houses set well back in generous plots. The 1986 report that recommended designation is in the documents library.

How the Estate is run

Unlike most roads in Birmingham, the roads, verges, street lighting, drainage and trees on the Estate are privately owned. They are the responsibility of Four Oaks Estate Ltd, a company whose directors are residents, elected at the Annual General Meeting. Day-to-day administration is carried out by the Secretary & Treasurer, with managing agents and a grounds maintenance contractor appointed by the Board.

The Estate is funded by an annual road frontage charge, calculated per yard of each property's road frontage and payable under the deed of covenant that runs with every house. The charge year runs from 1 October to 30 September. Work out your charge.

A Statement of Management, the current list of Board members, AGM minutes and the accounts are available in the Residents' area.

Trees and grounds

There are over four hundred trees on Estate land, which together with trees on neighbouring land shed more than twenty tons of leaves a year. The Estate commissions an arboricultural survey of every tree every two years and runs a grounds maintenance contract covering verges, hedges and leaf clearance. Because the Estate is a conservation area, works to most trees — including those in private gardens — need notice to the City Council first. See the guidance.