Major development to Birmingham's creative quarter approved

The developers behind the Phoenix Yard development are planning to transform a plot of land next to Digbeth high street.

The application site is an important location in the city, close to projects such as the Smithfield scheme and HS2, and based in an area that’s become known as Birmingham’s creative quarter.

Developers were seeking permission to build two blocks, one up to six storeys and another up to four storeys, which are proposed to be used for commercial and education purposes.

Meanwhile outline planning permission was being sought for up to 205 residential units, up to 576 student bedspaces, up to 228 co-living private bedrooms and up to 450 hotel rooms across two other blocks.

“The proposals seek to secure permission for any combination of these uses,” a council officer’s report said.

At a council planning meeting earlier today, Coun Gareth Moore said there was a lot to like about the plans, including its “attractive” design.

But he said he was particularly concerned about the “co-living element”, which he described as “basically glorified HMO living”.

“It’s not a use I can support,” Coun Moore said.

Coun Martin Brooks echoed praise about the scheme and added he could understand concerns about co-living.

“But I think that in terms of the site where it is and its access to the city centre, it’s actually quite a good location to have that kind of co-living concept,” he continued.

Coun Lee Marsham, chair of the planning committee, described the proposals as “maybe the best scheme we’ve seen in quite a while”.

A council officer added the applicants had demonstrated a need for co-living.

“As part of the broader mix that this scheme is bringing, we’re happy to support it in this particular instance,” he said.

Despite the possibility of deferring a decision being discussed, the planning committee ultimately voted to approve the plans.

‘Benefits carry greater weight’

A council report, published ahead of Thursday’s meeting, said the proposed development includes a “generous amount of public realm”.

“The intersection between the two routes proposed would serve as a ‘central square’ of activity and a space for social interaction and cohesion,” it said.

An ‘amenity lawn’, rooftop terraces and a resident’s park have also been proposed.

The council officer went on to name several benefits that the scheme could bring, including homes and commercial floorspace being provided, the potential delivery of a hotel, high-quality ‘public realm’ and the reuse of brownfield land.

But they also highlighted a number of issues such as loss of employment land and ‘less than substantial harm’ to the conservation area covering Digbeth high street.

Addressing these ‘harms’, the officer wrote: “I attribute only limited weight to those identified.

“This is because the harm to designated heritage assets would be at the lowest end of ‘less than substantial harm’ and the heritage benefits of the scheme carry greater weight.

“The application site has also been identified […] for uses other than employment.”

All existing buildings on the application site are proposed to be bulldozed except for Smithfield Garage, which would be demolished in part and refurbished.