Plans for new apartment blocks by canal near Birmingham city centre recommended for approval

Plans for new apartment blocks next to a canal on the edge of Birmingham city centre have been recommended for approval.

The proposals are for 234 apartments, which would be housed within a number of interlinked blocks across three plots, ranging from four to ten storeys in height.

If approved by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee next week, the development would be built on land north of Icknield Square in Ladywood, close to the Birmingham Main Line Canal.

According to a council officer’s report on the proposals, the development would provide “significant public realm and access benefits” by delivering a new public plaza as well as walking/cycling connection between the mainline canal and Icknield Square.

“This would thereby deliver large improvements to the canal side environment, which are seen as highly positive and of benefit to both existing and future residents of the site,” it continued. The report went on to recommend that the development is approved on the condition it provides 10 per cent affordable housing on site.

This is despite the city council seeking 35 per cent affordable homes on major developments.

However, the report said a “detailed viability assessment” was carried out as part of the proposals, before adding: “It has been concluded that the current offer of 10 per cent, in the form of on-site, market discounted homes, would be the option with the greatest benefit to the city.

“The Affordable Housing Team supports this recommendation and advises that this is the best option for the city.”

Summing up the benefits of the proposed development, the report concluded: “The 234 residential units would be located within a growth area of the city and a large number of these would be suitable for couples and small to medium sized families.

“This combined with the public realm improvement works, as well as the addition of the affordable units which would be provided on-site, would outweigh any harm associated with the scheme and result in a development which would have numerous benefits for the city. I further cannot see any adverse impacts that the scheme would result to, which cannot be mitigated against, through the careful use of planning conditions,” it added.

The proposals will be discussed by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday, March 14.