Decision on Birmingham Jewellery Quarter scheme pushed back

Developers lodged plans to demolish a number of existing industrial buildings at land bounded by Hockley Hill, Well Street, Great King Street and Barr Street.

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The scheme would then comprise five and six-storey blocks featuring 269 apartments, as well as commercial space.

175 Hockley Hill, a Grade II listed building which sits in the southern corner of the site, would be retained and incorporated into the development if the plans were to be approved.

In particular, it would be converted into a main entrance to the development with shared amenity space and two apartments above.

But during a recent planning meeting, one Birmingham councillor said he was concerned that the scheme could contribute to the character of the Jewellery Quarter being ‘chipped away’.

“The average height in the Jewellery Quarter is broadly four to five storeys,” Coun Philip Davis said. “This project is bigger than that.

“I know it’s on the edge of the quarter but it has an impact broadly.

“I welcome the restoration of the listed aspects of the site, that is a very strong positive.

“I appreciate there is a balanced judgement to be made but I am concerned that the scale of this development is potentially another incremental reduction in the character of the Jewellery Quarter.”

He added: “Incremental change still […] changes the nature of the Jewellery Quarter.

“I would prefer to defer this scheme.”

A council officer highlighted the “peripheral” location of the site, saying: “Most of the site is not in the conservation area.”

She added: “My view is that the massing and height is appropriate.”

The planning committee ultimately voted to defer a decision on the application however, which means it is set to be considered again at a future meeting.

A council report, published ahead of last week’s meeting, noted several benefits the proposals would bring such as the delivery of housing and the restoration of 175 Hockley Hill.

It also praised the re-use of a brownfield site, the delivery of affordable workspace and ‘ecological enhancements’ through the landscaping.

But the report also highlighted a number of harms, including the loss of employment land and no on-site public open space or financial contribution towards off-site provision.

“In my view, significant weight should be given to the delivery of housing, which remains a pressing need for the city despite its current ability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply,” the council officer wrote.

“The development is on brownfield land, 52 per cent of units would have two or three bedrooms and a range of options is proposed, including some duplex apartments.”

On heritage, they said: “The site currently detracts from the setting of the heritage assets and makes a poor contribution to the general character and appearance of a key route into and out of the city centre.”

The report ultimately concluded: “The benefits of the development would outweigh the harms and it should be approved.

“This application would bring the site into a more efficient use providing housing and workspace which is more suitable for use by creative industries.

“The architecture would be a vast improvement on the current buildings.

“The listed building within the site would be brought into a sustainable long-term use and the site would make a much more positive contribution to the setting of the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area.”