Tower blocks could provide hundreds of new homes

This CGI of what the development could look like has been released

Plans for seven residential blocks in an inner city area of Birmingham have been recommended for approval.

The proposals, if given the green light, would provide 451 homes in the Winson Green area, with the buildings ranging between five and nine storeys high.

Many of the ground-floor apartments would have private garden areas. The development would also boast open space for the private use of residents and a children's play area for the wider public.

Proposals will be considered at the city council’s planning committee on Thursday.

A previous planning application for the site in Great Western Close, for 310 homes, was approved in 2021.

However, a recently published council officer's report noted the "applicant now seeks to gain approval for a more intensive form of development at the site".

It said: "The development would further safeguard a large portion of the site which has a high ecological and biodiversity value and retain access to this for the public."

The report added the provision of affordable housing would be 6%, despite the council usually seeking 35% for residential developments of 15 dwellings or more.

'High need'

"It has been concluded that the current offer of 6%, in the form of on-site, market-discounted homes for first homes and affordable rental units, would be the option with the greatest benefit to the city," the report said.

"The Affordable Housing Team supports this recommendation and adds that there is a high need for such units within this area of the city."

Many apartments would feature private balconies at upper levels.

One of the recommended conditions is the payment of a new viability assessment upon an agreed level of occupancy being reached at the development.

"Should the new financial appraisal identify that the development could sustain a planning obligation, above and beyond the agreed 6%, this shall then take the form of affordable housing (on-site) or an off-site financial contribution towards affordable housing elsewhere in the city," the report said.

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