Apartments for huge city scheme set to be approved

The proposed development consists of a single block of 408 homes with commercial and retail units

Proposals to build hundreds of homes in a tower block as a part of huge city centre development have been recommended for approval by councillors.

Birmingham's Smithfield project, which will see former wholesale markets near the Bullring shopping centre turned into a new landmark destination, was given overall approval last year.

As part of the scheme, plans for an apartment block of 408 homes will be considered by Birmingham City Council's planning committee on 13 March.

The proposed development will include commercial space and retail units as well as leisure facilities.

The homes would include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments with access to shared indoor and outdoor spaces, a council report said.

The report added the apartments would make a "meaningful contribution" towards Birmingham's housing shortfall.

But Birmingham Civic Society raised concerns, criticising the "limited design quality" of the scheme, a mix of housing which it said "does not benefit families" and a lack of affordable housing.

The Smithfield scheme is Birmingham City Council's plan for former wholesale markets near the Bullring shopping centre

However the council's report notes that the appearance of the building is "acceptable" and this particular site forms only part of the units proposed to be delivered across the Smithfield Masterplan.

"Whilst this plot has a lower proportion of three-bed units, it can be supported in this phase of the master plan given that the plot falls within the northern part of the wider site where the focus is on commercial and civic uses," it said.

"The predominantly residential area of the site is to the south."

No affordable housing was secured for this particular plot of land but the wider project would have to deliver the minimum 10% required across the remaining plots, the report added.

Once complete, under the overall plans, the Smithfield project will include more than 3,000 new homes, offices and retail and cultural spaces as well as a park, a market and a cinema.

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