Decision taken on plans for Birmingham city center tower blocks

Proposals for seven new residential blocks in an area of ​​Birmingham city center have been approved. The plans, given the green light by Birmingham City Council this week, will provide 451 homes across seven buildings in Winson Green.

These towers, according to the planning application, would be between five and nine storeys high. Many of the ground floor apartments would have private garden areas, while many others would have private balconies on the upper levels.

The development would also have various open space areas for residents’ private use and a children’s play area for the general public. A previous planning application for the site in Great Western Close, this one for 310 homes, was approved as early as 2021.

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However, a council officer’s report published ahead of Thursday’s planning committee meeting noted: “The applicant is now seeking approval for a more intensive form of development of the site.” Speaking at the meeting about the housing mix, Cllr Colin Green said: “I note that this is a development of approximately half and half one and two bedroom flats.

“It doesn’t even have the excuse of being right downtown, so as per my usual objection, I’m not going to support that application.” Idris Gulfraz, head of planning, said: “We worked tirelessly with the applicants. to try and increase the mix here and I’m pleased to note that we have five percent of three bed units.

“More than half of the units, 59 percent, are two and three beds. So the total number of one-bed units is 41 percent, which is an improvement when looking at the previous deal.

“We also now have six per cent affordable housing, which again we didn’t have in the previous scheme.” Martin Brooks, chairman of the planning committee, offered his views and said: “There is already planning approval on the site.

“In fact, I think the demand in front of us is much better than before – certainly in terms of affordable housing. This is a pretty difficult site to develop, and I’d say on that basis it’s probably okay.

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“I think the more intensive development we’re getting from this site makes it a much better app in my opinion.”

Birmingham City Council typically seeks 35 per cent for residential developments of 15 or more homes. The council officer’s report said a “detailed viability assessment” was considered as part of the proposals and although the scheme was deemed unviable, an adequate level of affordable housing provision was agreed.

“It was concluded that the current offer of 6%, in the form of on-site, affordable first homes and affordable rental units, would be the option with the greatest benefit to the city,” the statement said . “The affordable housing team supports this recommendation and adds that there is a great need for such units in this area of ​​the city.”

The proposals were approved by the planning committee on Thursday, June 13, subject to legal consent. One of the recommended conditions was the payment of a new viability assessment on reaching an agreed occupancy level at the development.

“If the new financial assessment identifies that the development could support a planning obligation, above and beyond the agreed 6 per cent, this will then take the form of affordable housing (on-site) or an off-site financial contribution for affordable housing elsewhere. in the city,” the report said.

The proposal was a general application, seeking consent for access, aspect and scale only, with landscape and aspect matters reserved for future determination.

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