City centre skyscraper recommended for approval

Proposals for a new skyscraper in Birmingham city centre have again been recommended for approval, despite concerns over an apparent lack of affordable housing.

Birmingham City Council’s planning committee will discuss the plans for three new buildings, including a 41-storey tower, after deferring its decision in September.

A report previously considered by the committee said the proposed development, on land at Bristol Street, Bromsgrove Street and Essex Street, would provide 550 build-to-rent homes.

But just 31 units, less than 6%, were planned to be affordable housing.

The Birmingham Fair Housing Campaign criticised the scheme, arguing at the time that it “does not meet the needs of those who most desperately need housing in our city”.

Concerns also arose during a meeting earlier this year, with councillor Philip Davis describing the affordable housing offer as “extremely low”.

Councillor Colin Green also objected to the fact that nearly half the units would be one bedroom flats.

“My concern is we’re overdeveloping the city centre with one bedroom flats that are just not needed and it’s a problem that will last 100 years after we’ve made the decision,” he told the meeting.

But an update, issued before next week’s meeting, said it was the view of council officers that increasing the number of two and three bed units would have “adverse consequences for the ability to support an increased affordable housing offer.”

It recommended the proposed development for approval on condition it provided either 5.6% affordable homes on-site, or an off-site contribution of £3.17m towards affordable housing.

The design of the scheme was praised in the report published earlier this year, with Birmingham City Council leisure services describing the architectural style as “refreshingly bold and unique” and saying it would be “a landmark building within the city’s skyline”.

The report said the benefits of the scheme would outweigh any potential harm to sites including The Rotunda, St Martin’s Church, and The Wellington Hotel.

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