100 one-bedroom flat plans approved for former nightclub in Birmingham Gay Village

A new 12-storey apartment block in the heart of Birmingham’s Gay Village has been approved despite noise concerns and issues surrounding ‘putting people in rabbit hutches’.

Applicant Prosperity Southside Residences will now transform the former Amusement 13 nightclub and derelict office block on the corner of Lower Essex Street and Kent Street into 146 new flats, 111 of which (76 per cent) will be one-bedroom. The other 35 will be two-bed.

Despite being given approval at today’s planning meeting, the car-free development was slammed by Sheldon councillor Colin Green (Lib Dem), who said: “This is an extreme example – of the 114 flats, 100 of them are going to be one-person, one-bedroom flats. Over three-quarters of them are going to be just one-bedroom flats. There is no need for this.

“We don’t need, as a society, to put people in rabbit hutches. It’s not a crime to have a little bit of space in your house. My concern is it will create a community desert where people move in and move out straight away. This kind of scheme is so harmful to the city as a whole that it grossly outweighs any benefit that it produces.”

The site sits just a few yards away from one of Birmingham’s busiest and well-known nightclubs, Nightingale’s. The owner had objected to the plan citing how noise from the venue, plus disturbance from taxis and people would “impact on the quality of life on future residents”. However, that objection was withdrawn prior to today’s verdict.

Supporting the plans, which will include a rear courtyard, a foyer, a shared lounge, and two roof terraces, councillor Lee Marsham (Nechells, Labour) said: “I think this is a good use of brownfield land and it’s important to protect the Gay Village and, as Nightingale’s has withdrawn its objections, I think we’re good to go on this one.”

Councillor Jack Deakin (Allens Cross, Labour) added: “I am concerned about the spread of the diversity of the properties. However, I appreciate the location may attract people who may be willing to live in apartments that are this size. It’s a positive for the local economy, particularly in the Gay Village, and it’s quite popular to live in that area.”