Hey, I can help you out with the Birmingham area, south Birmingham is best for the kind of area you’re looking for. You get the best of both worlds…nice surburban areas in close proximity to good Asian shops and restaurants
I live in a non Desi area but it’s close enough to the main Asian roads for food and shopping. Look into areas like Edgbaston, Moseley, Harborne…they’re lovely places.
If you want to go just outside of Birmingham then Solihull and Sutton Coldfield are fantastic as well, you would just have to travel a bit more to get to the Asian areas. I can’t say much for north Birmingham as I’ve never lived there but I wouldn’t recommend it, there are some pretty rough areas in the north of Birmingham. I’d avoid places like Saltely, Handsworth, Lozells, Nechells.
Hope that helps! 