Jewellery Quarter scheme in Birmingham to be considered a second time

Developers previously lodged plans to demolish a number of existing industrial buildings at land near Hockley Hill to provide new apartments.

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In particular, the scheme would 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 plans are given the green light.

The building would be converted into a main entrance to the development with shared amenity space and two apartments above.

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

“I welcome the restoration of the listed aspects of the site, that is a very strong positive,” Coun Philip Davis said.

“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.

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

“I would prefer to defer this scheme.”

A decision on the proposals was ultimately pushed back, with the plans now set to be considered again at a meeting next Thursday, March 19.

In an update issued ahead of the meeting, a council officer wrote that the developer had already made “significant reductions” to the overall scale of the development during the evolution of the scheme.

“There is now both an acceptable design and sufficient viability to restore the listed building and provide affordable housing and workspace, which are important public benefits,” they wrote.

“Requiring further reductions would jeopardise the viability of the scheme and some of the public benefits it offers.”

The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust also submitted comments emphasizing its support for the proposal, the officer added.

“The scale and height is considered appropriate in this gateway location and in the context of the large former factory buildings which characterise this side of Great Hampton Street,” the Trust said.

The council officer went on to recommend the plans for approval once again, writing: “The development would be of high quality and would protect the heritage of an architecturally significant listed building.

“It would deliver multiple public benefits, including new housing, commercial space suitable for creative industry occupation, and affordable housing and workspace.

“Taking them together, the public benefits are considered sufficient to outweigh the harms.”

Harms identified in a previous report include the loss of employment land and no on-site public open space or financial contribution towards off-site provision.

On heritage, it 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.”

During last month’s meeting, a council officer also highlighted the “peripheral” location of the site and said: “Most of the site is not in the conservation area.”

The proposals will be considered again by Birmingham’s planning committee next Thursday.