722-home plan for Jewellery Quarter car park
Plans have been put forward to transform a city centre car park into a sprawling 722-home development with planning chiefs set to decide on the issue.
Permission is being sought to turn Ludgate Hill car park in the Jewellery Quarter into the city centre’s latest housing development, including a 39-storey skyscraper.
However the development has been met with a string of objections from local groups, with several claiming that the design would damage the "character and appearance of the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area".
The plans, which are due to go before the council’s planning committee next week, include the construction of three ‘blocks’ of accommodation on the car park off Lionel Street/Livery Street/Great Charles Street/Ludgate Hill.
However several local organisations have raised objections to the designs, with papers noting: "Historic England objects to this application due to the harm caused to the character and appearance of the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area, and to the significance of some of Birmingham’s most revered and highly significant heritage assets.
"With such colossal height and scale proposed they feel that the scheme would need to be significantly reduced to address the impact on the historic environment.
"Whilst some modest increase in building height at this far eastern corner of the site is not disputed, at 39 storeys the proposed tower would be among the tallest buildings in Birmingham.
"It would be nearly twice that of the neighbouring Snow Hill developments which, even at their 20 storeys, have a considerable presence."
Similar objections have been raised by the Victorian Society, while six letters of objection have also been received from local residents and councillors.
However despite this the application has been recommended for approval, with councillor set to vote on the plans next week.
