100-home residential scheme overcomes final hurdle
Final obstacles to the progression of a new residential scheme in Birmingham have been overcome with councillors granting approval for the development.
Taylor Wimpey West Midlands secured outline consent for Lifford Park last year but needed approval of reserved matters in order to start work proper.
The 101 new homes are proposed for the former Arvin Meritor Works, Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley.
Most of the buildings relating to the former works were demolished in November 2009 following the relocation of the business to new premises. The site (above) is now almost entirely cleared.
The reserved matters submission approved by the city’s planning committee detailed the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the development, along with on-site infrastructure.
The layout broadly follows that of the scheme approved last year, with vehicular access off Fordhouse Lane, at the site’s south-east corner. This is being extended to form a circular route around a large, central perimeter block, with a row of 12 houses also fronting onto it along the site’s western boundary, and a further 15 homes to its north side.
The 101 dwellings are a mix of: 12 one-bed flats, six two-bed flats, 26 two-bed houses, 46 three-bed houses and 11 four-bed houses.
The houses are a mix of two or 2.5 storeys, with a three-storey block of flats.
Planning officers said the scale, layout and design of the homes was acceptable and appropriate for the area, adding they would “deliver a significant contribution to the city’s housing needs”.
The re-use of a brownfield site is an added benefit to the scheme.
