'Massive fridge will block my sun and views'

"It's massive, it's huge. It just looks a mess, it's an eyesore and I just don't think we have been given all the information."

Mohammed Khurshid is among residents of Nechells in Birmingham, "frustrated and unhappy" at the construction of a metal cooling facility 45 metres (150 ft) from their homes.

The 20-metre (65-ft) structure is being built by Wing Yip Supermarket, and locals say, once finished, it will "block their views and sun".

Birmingham City Council said there would not be "any undue overlooking or overshadowing", while the firm added construction was under way "according to the designs approved by the city council."

More than 25 homes will look out onto the structure once it is finished.

People living on Cranemoor Close, Robertsons Gardens and Showells Gardens are now calling on council officials to speak to them, and want to know why planning permission was given.

Mr Khurshid said: "It's quite high and it's blocking my sun. Once it's finished, as you see, it's going to be a metal wall."

The council said a shadow study was conducted as part of the application, and "no undue impact was noted", while residents had been given "utmost consideration".

Meanwhile, others say that, despite being aware of the plans to build on the land, they had "no idea how big it would be".

Omar Azem, who has lived on the close for 11 years, said: "I did not expect to have this big, big building, I think the council should have some respect for the people living here for more than 10 years. There is no respect at all for us.

"I can see nothing now from my window. I could see everything from my window, now everything is blocked."

Mr Azem's wife, Angela Yanes, said she was "really unhappy" about the structure.

In a statement, a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "The height of the building, the loss of views and the loss of amenities were all considered as part of a full and thorough assessment."

It added the assessment found "a small number of residents would experience some loss of views, and this was considered against the benefits that granting the planning application would bring when making a decision".

A spokesperson for Wing Yip Supermarket said it had conducted a two-week pre-application public consultation on the plans in March 2022.

"The consultation was supported by both a project website and leaflets delivered to around 100 neighbouring properties.

"The planning application was then submitted in April 2022 before Birmingham City Council commenced its own statutory consultation on the plans in May 2022.

It added the proposed height of the new building had been reduced by 20% as a result, while other resident concerns regarding noise and highways access were also addressed.

"Two and half years on from receiving planning permission, the business is excited to be making progress towards delivering the economic and social benefits that were promised by these plans".

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