Moda secures green light for 37-storey tower
Moda Living’s proposal for a 37-storey residential tower in Edgbaston has been approved by councillors.
Phase II of its New Garden Square development in conjunction with Calthorpe Estates will see 1 Duchess Road demolished and 462 apartments delivered on Hagley Road.
Plans were submitted in January for Phase II, which will comprise 226 one-bedroom apartments, 210 two-bedroom apartments and 26 three-bedroom apartments.
In response to the Birmingham City Council’s preference for an off-site financial contribution, Moda has committed to providing an affordable housing contribution of £1.9m which is equivalent to an affordable housing provision of 11.8%.
This will be the basis of a Section 106 agreement, alongside an off-site biodiversity net gain financial contribution of £35,010.
The demolition of 1 Duchess Place will pave the way for a basement for parking for 39 cars and 230 cycle spaces. Other features include a 4,200 sq ft roof garden, a gym, workspaces, and lounges as well as commercial and F&B offerings at ground level.
Up to 425 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase, and 14 will be created upon completion of the scheme.
Designs for the building include the creation of two interlocking rectangles, with one element facing Hagley Road and the other responding to the emerging public park of New Garden Square.
The New Garden Square development could provide up to 1,600 homes in total, as well as £6m worth of public realm as part of the ‘Moda Masterplan’ across 11 acres. 398 homes are already being built alongside the landowner Calthorpe Estate as part of Phase I.
When plans were lodged, James Blakey, planning and engagement director at Moda Group, said: “These plans represent a huge step forward for the next phase of the New Garden Square masterplan, bringing us closer to delivering additional much-needed, high-quality new homes for Edgbaston with substantial public space next to Edgbaston Village metro station.
“Our partnership working with Calthorpe Estates, the local community and our investors and stakeholders plus Birmingham City Council will deliver something that is transformational not just for Edgbaston and Birmingham but also for the wider Midlands region.”
Moda Living has so far committed more than £600m to developments in the city, with Moda, The Mercian, New Garden Square Phase I and Great Charles Street.
A public consultation was held between 24 October – 13 November, engaging with 3,200 residents and 300 commercial addresses located in proximity to the site within the Ladywood ward.
