Green light for 310-bed student scheme

Birmingham City Council has approved a 317-bed student accommodation development near Aston University.

The planning committee voted 9-3 in favour of the scheme at today’s meeting.

Led by Lavender Property Group, the project involves the demolition of a two-storey building on Cliveland Street to make way for a purpose-built student accommodation complex, fronting both Cecil Street and Cliveland Street.

The development will feature 192 studio apartments and 125 beds in shared clusters of five, nine, and twelve rooms.

Initially planned as a seven- to eight-storey structure, the design has been revised to include a six-storey frontage along Cecil Street and a five-storey rear section with two wings, one of which connects to the Cliveland Street block.

The revised design, which includes these changes, was a key factor in the planning committee’s decision to approve the scheme.

An opposition raised at the meeting concerned the location of the building and how the design would integrate with surrounding structures.

The development will offer a range of shared amenities, including a communal space/games room, gym, laundry, reception area, post room, and a bin store. Residents will also have access to courtyards and roof gardens, with building access exclusively from Cecil Street.

Externally, there will be bicycle parking with 96 spaces for residents and 20 visitor spaces, located off Cecil Street.