Plans for apartments in Birmingham city centre
Plans to convert and extend a city centre building to provide new apartments have been recommended for approval.
Developers are seeking permission to add five storeys to 55 Holloway Head, a largely vacant block that’s also known as Lee Bank House.
The building would be 12 storeys and bring 215 apartments to the city if the plans are given the green light later this week.
Proposals have also been put forward for the erection of nine townhouses as part of the plans.
The site was originally designed and built in the 1950’s as a flatted factory for industrial use but a wide variety of uses have been introduced over time, such as the introduction of workshops, offices and training facilities.
A council officer’s report said the development would bring in several benefits, including housing, street scape improvements and an enhanced biodiversity offer.
But it also acknowledged that it could cause harm to designated assets such as the nearby Craven Arms and Synagogue – albeit ‘very low levels’ of harm in both cases.
“The designated heritage assets hold considerable historic significance,” the council officer wrote.
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“The less than substantial harm which would be caused to their significance by the development is considered by conservation colleagues to reach very low levels.
“And in my view, I consider there are enough benefits associated with this proposal to outweigh the heritage harm.”
They went on to conclude: “The proposed development would see the delivery of a high-quality residential led development, in a sustainable location on brownfield land bringing back into use a vacant building.
“The proposed 215 residential apartments and nine town houses would make a meaningful contribution towards Birmingham’s housing provision and regeneration aspirations.
“It would create a distinctive place and deliver a financial contribution towards affordable housing.”
On the loss of existing employment floorspace, they said: “The site has previously received planning permission for re-development and that has been no change in policy since that decision that would alter that position.
“In addition, the local area has seen significant change with numerous residential developments being built on adjacent sites, changing the character of the area to predominantly residential.”
The plans have therefore been recommended for approval and will be considered at a planning committee meeting this Thursday, January 22.
