Enormous skyscraper plan for Birmingham approved after third consideration

The city council’s planning committee deferred plans for three buildings, including a 41-storey tower, for the second time last November.

A council report at the time said the proposed development, on land at Bristol Street, Bromsgrove Street and Essex Street, would provide more than 500 build-to-rent homes.

The design of the scheme was also praised in the report as “refreshingly bold and unique”.

However, the committee first delayed a decision on the plans last September amid concerns about the housing mix, particularly the number of one-bedroom flats.

Concerns were again raised at November’s planning meeting, with Coun Colin Green saying he was still concerned about the mix, which he described as “pretty poor”.

“I have some concerns myself – it seems this scheme is a very monolithic block on Bristol Street,” Coun Martin Brooks, former chair of the committee, added.

“I don’t like the tower block right opposite the Wellington [Hotel], I think it’s not ideal – I’m not over the moon about it.”

The city council later confirmed the plans had been deferred, minded to refuse, following the meeting in November.

But an update issued ahead of a planning meeting today, June 5, confirmed both the housing mix and building design had been amended.

The proposed overall number of homes has been reduced from 550 to 531 and the number of three-bedroom apartments has increased.

The update continued: “The design changes to the Bristol Street/Bromsgrove Street junction are intended to address comments on the relationship with the wider townscape and the listed former Wellington Public House.”

Speaking at the planning meeting today, committee chair Lee Marsham said: “I think members when coming to make a vote on this will need to judge whether use of brownfield land to help regenerate an area outweighs any concerns you may have.

“I note [the pub opposite]’s business has flourished since that area has started to regenerate so hopefully more people living nearby means more custom.”

The proposals were ultimately approved, subject to a legal agreement, following a vote among the planning committee.

Summing up why the proposed development had been recommended for approval again before the meeting, the recent update said: “It is officer’s view that the proposed amended housing mix can be supported in the inner central area.

“The proposed design and associated landscaping and public realm is considered to be of high quality.

“Substantial weight is afforded to the use of a brownfield site in a highly sustainable location to deliver homes.”

It continued: “There is less than substantial harm identified to designated heritage assets, and would result in the demolition of some non-designated assets, which is afforded significant weight.

“However, when weighed against the benefits of the proposal set out, the identified harm is not considered substantial to warrant refusal of the application.”

The benefits of the scheme include new public realm, the provision of housing, temporary construction jobs and an enhancement of the ecological and biodiversity offer at the site, the council said.