Major Jewellery Quarter scheme approved

A major scheme to bring hundreds of new homes and affordable work space to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter have been given the green light.

Members of Birmingham City Council’s planning committee approved a proposal to build 422 apartments across four blocks, along with residential courtyards and commercial floorspace on land close to Newhall Street and St Paul’s Square.

Developers Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital said the development would be a ‘tremendous asset’ to the city.

The plan was opposed by Jewellery Quarter Development Trust who raised concerns the scheme was not compliant with Neighbourhood Plan and Conservation Area policies.

But members said the provision of affordable work space was beneficial for businesses in the city and agreed with officer recommendations to approve.

A previously approved scheme on the site in question is “undeliverable” due to it no longer being financially viable.

Matthew Bott, from the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, said: “This is the most important development site in the Jewellery Quarter at the moment and it is critical to get it right.

“We support and welcome residential development here. The Jewellery Quarter population has doubled in the last 10 years and we support it doubling it again in the next 10.

“We also support the provision of affordable work space, this is essential for the Jewellery Quarter.

“However, we have some serious objections which are not compliant with the Neighbourhood Plan and Conservation Area policies.

“The first is heritage. The applicant has demolished over 20 unlisted buildings on the site in a conservation area and are now seeking to demolish the final two.

“They are also seeking to replace these with four super blocks that are not appropriate to the Jewellery Quarter.

“The second serious issue is the extension of Newhall Street which provides the north-south route through the site.

“This is a Neighbourhood Plan policy that has been carefully considered to give line of sight to the Jewellery Quarter from Newhall Street.

“This is backed up a King’s Foundation study and instead the proposal is to build a wall blocking the view. The Neighbourhood Plan and the Conservation Area are being ignored”

Richard Jenkins, head of sustainability and urban development at Galliard Homes, refuted the claim the policies were being ignored.

He said: “We’re hugely excited to put these proposals before you which we think will be a tremendous asset to both the Jewellery Quarter and wider city.

“With our partners, we’ve successfully delivered numerous mixed regeneration schemes in the city over the past seven years.

“These efforts have resulted in the delivery of well over 2,000 homes contributing meaningfully to the city’s housing numbers and economic development.

“422 new homes and 67,000 sq foot of commercial space demonstrates our commitment to the city.

“The proposal will unlock a stalled site and activate the surrounding area and deliver a balanced mix of residential and commercial spaces.

“We strongly believe this painstakingly and sensitively designed scheme will contribute positivity to the setting and the character of the Conservation Area.”