Plans for more than 500 new apartments in Birmingham have been approved despite concerns over fire safety from city councillors. Goodstone Living has won the green light for the controversial project in Digbeth which has also faced opposition in the past over fears it could impact a major new rail infrastructure scheme.
The four-acre project at 193 Camp Hill, consented at the latest meeting of Birmingham City Council's planning committee, will comprise six residential blocks ranging from three to 26 storeys and contain 550 units, from studio apartments up to four-bedroom townhouses for rent only.
Called 'Camp Hill Gardens', there will be 22,000 sq ft internal amenity space including a gym, dining rooms and rooftop terraces, private gardens and commercial space offered at a discount to local businesses. Designed by London-based Darling Associate Architects, construction is expected to start early next year.
Goodstone Living is a new arm of Australian bank Macquarie, one-time owner of the M6 Toll motorway, which was only launched last year with the purpose of acquiring, developing and operating UK build-to-rent projects.
Founder and principal Martin Bellinger said: "Birmingham's build-to-rent market is hugely competitive which puts the onus on developers and investors to keep raising the bar of what renters can expect. Our Birmingham scheme is an excellent illustration of that in action.
"Birmingham is the UK's second largest city by population and, with a growing cohort of residents coming to the city, there is a clear need to deliver high quality purpose-built and professionally managed rental accommodation."
A report prepared ahead of the committee meeting raised concerns about escape routes, access for emergency services and facilities to some blocks in the event of a fire. Current plans for a spiral external staircase were considered inappropriate for people with mobility issues.
Cllr Gareth Moore told the meeting: "It makes me really, really nervous that there are fire safety concerns around these buildings. Certainly, after the Grenfell tragedy, we do have a duty to make sure that any fire safety concerns, when they are raised at this stage, are fully addressed before we give permission."
Building regulators are still planning to look at the project before work can commence.
A planning officer told the committee: "Fundamentally, these are building regulation issues that will need to be resolved as the development continues to be designed. The granting of planning permission in no way circumvents the developer having to meet the required building regulations."
Objections were also received from the local flood authority, which stated the plans did not meet minimum planning policy requirements, and charity Canal & River Trust which fears the project could harm an important water feeder, water quality and drainage.
Historic England said it was concerned the scale of the buildings would overwhelm the Holy Trinity Church and other Digbeth landmarks.
The site at 193 Camp Hill was occupied for more than a century by Swiss coil manufacturer Sulzer but it has relocated to a new UK head office and maintenance facility in Solihull.
Goodstone Living acquired 193 Camp Hill last summer from Eutopia Homes which had previously won an appeal to build on the site after Birmingham City Council threw its proposals out. Consent was in place for 480 apartments and houses, a 167-bedroom hotel, commercial space and public realm but Goodstone Living vowed to submit new designs when it completed the deal.
Eutopia Homes' original application had garnered a significant amount of opposition, including from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and regional transport groups, amid concerns it could jeopardise the proposed Bordesley Chords rail project.
The scheme will enable new rail viaducts to be built in Digbeth and take more services into Moor Street station from the east and south of Birmingham, including from three new stations under construction in Kings Heath, Moseley and Hazelwell on the Camp Hill line.
Cllr Lee Marsham told the meeting: "I want it noted that, if for any reason the chords development is impacted by this scheme, it is on the secretary of state's head."
Cllr Moore added: "I do hope that is not compromised because it would be a shame for residents of Birmingham to lose out on major transport investment as a result of developments taking place elsewhere."
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