Mixed-use scheme proposed for contentious supermarket site

One of Birmingham’s most contentious brownfield development sites is set for a new mixed-use shopping and residential scheme.

The nine-acre site on the corner of Hazelwell Lane and Pershore Road, Stirchley had once been earmarked as the location of a new Tesco supermarket.

It has now been acquired by city-based developer SevenCapital, which is preparing to submit plans for the new mixed-use scheme.

It is consulting with the city council and local stakeholders to design a scheme which satisfies the needs of the area.

Samuel Clark, development director at SevenCapital, said: “This site has languished for some time and given its location between Bournville, Selly Park, Moseley and Kings Heath the investment by SevenCapital will play a critical role catalysing (the) gentrification of this important Birmingham suburb.”

Tesco had been working on developing a store in the area for 16 years prior to backing out of the plan.

Birmingham City Council, keen that the scheme should go ahead, had even fended off a legal challenge from a rival retailer so it could put together the land package that would allow the Tesco scheme to progress.

The retailer had confirmed its intention to build the new store as recently as 2015 and had even cleared the site of a former working men’s club and reclamation yard in anticipation of the long-delayed project going ahead.

Then in February this year it revealed its intention to pull out of the plan. The move corresponded with a review by the retailer of its new-build programme nationally.

The preparation work means that SevenCapital will be in a position to progress the scheme as quickly as possible.