57 new Jewellery Quarter homes approved
Plans to demolish 19th century buildings to create 57 homes have been approved despite concerns it would “remove the character” of the Jewellery Quarter.
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee approved an application to create apartments, town houses and the refurbishment of Heaton House, an early 19th century villa.
The plan from Elevate Property Group also includes a 401 square metre commercial floor space, which could be available for shop, financial, office or non-residential institution use.
Six apartments are proposed to be affordable, just over 10 per cent of the total number of dwellings at land off Camden Street and Powell Street.
The application includes three new apartment buildings at a height of five storeys, despite the council’s Jewellery Quarter Design Guide stating developments should not exceed four stories.
The neighbouring buildings to be removed under the plans include warehouse and office spaces as well as the remains of 19th century “back-to-back” housing on Camden Street.
Residents of the nearby Altitude Apartments have raised concerns that their balconies would “look onto a high brick wall” and that the development’s height would impact on light and privacy.
The Victorian Society and Historic England raised concerns about the removal of 19th century back-to-back housing on Camden Street which “tell the story” of the development of the area.
The application was supported by 10 committee members, and opposed by Councillor Lou Robson and Councillor Peter Griffiths.
Councillor Robson said: “I can’t see the justification for the extent of demolition leaving everything but one building.
“The history of the Jewellery Quarter is 200 years of history and evolution and that’s upheld in our own planning documents.
“What will happen as has happened with other sites in the quarter as they get redeveloped is the extent of demolition just removes the character of the Jewellery Quarter which is the jewel in the crown of Birmingham heritage.
“This sets precedence which is going to happen all over the city.
“We will be left with only a small amount of heritage buildings, probably from the 18th century, pepper-potted among new developments.
“The guidance for the area allows buildings of up to four stories but suggests that this should include two to three-storey buildings so there’s actually some variation in height.
“Again, we see an application with a five-storey building being advocated. I’m afraid I can’t support that.”
Councillor Gareth Moore said: “I do share some of the sentiments that Councillor Robson has raised about the number of heritage buildings lost as a result of this application.
“But from the photographs I can see within the report, and what I have been able to see from Google as well, a lot of them lack any architectural merit and they aren’t of the best quality.
“So overall we do have to balance the issues at stake and I do think preserving Heaton House and restoring it has to take precedence over retaining the larger site.
“I am minded to support it, though I do share the sentiments that have been raised by objectors and I do hope officers will be able to continue to work with developers to ensure that we do not lose the full heritage of the Jewellery Quarter in the name of redevelopment.”
