Fears for city's heritage as new flats plan backed

Plans to build more than 400 flats in the heart of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter have been recommended for approval, amid a row over the demolition of two industrial buildings.

Developers are seeking permission to build 422 apartments across four blocks, with residential courtyards and business space.

A previously-approved scheme for the site had sought to retain 123 and 128 Northwood Street, but was "undeliverable" and no longer financially viable, a council report said.

The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust has objected to the revised plan and describes the proposed demolition of the buildings as "unacceptable and unnecessary", arguing they are key to the conservation area.

If approved next week, the development would take shape on land close to Newhall Street and St Paul's Square.

The council report noted both buildings, dating to the early 20th Century, were "characteristic of the Jewellery Quarter's industrial history", but said: "It is no longer economically viable to retain them."

Demolishing the buildings presented an opportunity to "deliver a viable, largely new-build scheme", the report said.

Officers said while the buildings were considered to be locally significant, they added: "Their complete loss would not in itself make the overall scheme substantially harmful."

The proposed scheme, the report continued, provided "a significant amount of commercial floorspace", supporting the economic "vitality" of the area with space for creative and local businesses.

It concluded there were enough benefits, including regeneration of an important site and housing, to outweigh limited harms.

The one, two and three-bed apartments would contribute towards the city's need for new housing, the report said, adding that the plan presented "an opportunity to unlock this otherwise unviable site for redevelopment".

The proposals will be considered by Birmingham's planning committee on Thursday.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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