Revised plans for 540-bed student scheme approved

Revised plans for a 540-bed purpose-built student accommodation development on Gough Street, have been approved by Birmingham City Council.

The 29-storey scheme was initially rejected because it was “too overbearing”. Developers MRP and Vita Group will now create the “high-quality” student rooms with a residents’ gym, dance studio, co-study spaces, social hub, games rooms and private dining rooms.

The council were looking to see how the new building would sit and integrate into its immediate surroundings and also into the wider context.

The scheme design was amended to reorientate rooms in the taller portion of the building situated beside Queensgate House, to remove any potential overlooking issues between this proposal and the neighbouring site. Rooms are now positioned to look east and west via the gables.

The gables to the main tower have been redesigned in light of the repositioning of windows. The new adjusted proposal provides a “simple and disciplined architectural language” and the gables to the lower portion of the building have been adjusted to “complement the folded treatment” to the taller gables.