Apartments plan for former council depot will go ahead if developer pays up

A scheme to build almost 150 new apartments on the site of a former Birmingham City Council works depot is set to receive planning consent from the local authority – provided developers can make the required financial contribution to fund off-site amenity space.

Developer Inland has applied for permission to redevelop the site of the depot in Sherborne Street and build two new blocks, together housing 146 apartments, with car parking and associated landscaping.

The apartments would be based in two main blocks fronting Sherborne Street, separated by a new access route to the Tamworth and Fazeley canal. The larger of the blocks will be positioned to the eastern end of Sherborne Street and will comprise a building facing onto both Sherborne Street and Grosvenor Street West with two wings to the rear, one of which would run along the eastern side of the proposed new route.

The frontage would range in height between 4-6 storeys and the wings would range in height between 3-6 storeys.

The smaller block would be positioned to the western end of Sherborne Street and provide frontages to a private road access adjacent to 1 Sherborne Gate, the proposed new access route. This block would range in height from 2 to 4 storeys and step up and away from 1 Sherborne Gate.

The buildings would be modern, flat roofed and of a simple design with floor to ceiling openings and projecting and recessed balconies.

A new access is proposed off Sherborne Street and would provide access to the underground parking for a total of 102 cars.

The site has been the subject of various residential schemes in recent years but none have progressed.

The most recent was a plan for the erection of 31 three-bed and four two-bed townhouses with associated parking following the granting of outline consent in 2012.

Prior to this, Cala Homes had submitted proposals for 167 apartments and two commercial units contained within a 4-7 storey building fronting both Grosvenor Street West and Sherborne Street.

This application followed a previous one for 185 units which was quashed due to the failure of the planning inspector to consider the level of daylight within 1 Sherborne Gate.

The amended scheme proposes a total of 48 one-bed and 98 two-bed apartments.

A report to Thursday’s planning committee said planning obligations stipulated that a contribution should be made towards the provision of public open space.

However, at the level proposed, a financial appraisal has been submitted with the application to demonstrate that the scheme would not be financially viable.

It said an independent assessment had been commissioned by the city which agreed that the development was not viable with a full policy compliant scheme. However, it does conclude that the scheme could support a financial contribution of £547,500.

“Given the nature of the city centre development this contribution could be used towards off site affordable housing and enhancement of the public realm or existing open space,” states the report by planning officer Joanne Todd.

“There are insufficient monies to include a contribution towards education. In this case I consider most of the money should go towards affordable housing, £400,000, with the remaining £147,500 to open space. This would be directed to enhancements at Edgbaston Reservoir for which there is an emerging masterplan and that this would comply with the CIL Regulations 2010,” said the report.