Plans for more than 480 Digbeth homes to be considered again after setback

Proposals for 481 Digbeth homes are set to be reevaluated by Birmingham City Council after planning officers deferred their decision following concerns.

The development from the UK’s largest affordable housing provider Clarion was tipped for approval by planning officers, but the decision was postponed due to concerns over affordable housing and aviation safety.

Clyde Street in Digbeth would comprise 481 apartments across two interlinked buildings of 10 and 34-storeys, on the former Safestore industrial land.

It’s being brought forward by Latimer, a subsidiary of Clarion Housing Group, which will designate 55% of the homes as affordable housing through a grant from Homes England once the scheme is approved. It has earmarked 141 apartments for social rent and 127 for shared ownership.

The proposed development is now set to be approved by planning officers based on Clyde Street meeting specified conditions and finalising a legal agreement.

The council’s independent assessor has said that the current scheme’s viability model “would not support the inclusion of affordable housing directly in the legal agreement.”

“Questions regarding aviation safety have been confirmed” with Birmingham Airport also recommending conditions to “secure a construction management strategy, a bird hazard management plan, a permanent obstacle lighting scheme and a CAA crane notification condition.”

The report also said that the development would incur certain negative impacts, including on the townscape, visual aesthetics, and heritage assets.

Plans are set to undergo further deliberation at an upcoming meeting of Birmingham City Council’s planning committee scheduled for Thursday, April 25th.