Plans Featuring 29-Storey Tower Near Approval
5/12/22
A 29-storey tower providing new student accommodation could be built on a vacant site in Birmingham if plans are approved at committee next week. The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs.
ES Suffolk Birmingham lodged proposals to erect two buildings, rising to ten and 29 storeys, on land off Gough Street and Suffolk Street Queensway.
The site is vacant, having most recently been partially occupied by a former print works building which, prior to demolition, was in use as a cultural centre.
The development, which would be operated by Vita Student, consists of approximately 206,000 sq ft of floorspace, providing 540 studios.
Planned amenities include a gym studio, 24-hour concierge, a pool/games area, laundry and study spaces.
It is anticipated that the project would create about 466 full-time equivalent jobs during demolition and construction, along with 15 roles upon completion through building/site management.
A statement filed with Birmingham City Council on behalf of the applicant said: "The operators of the scheme, Vita Student, are an established and highly regarded operator with national experience of bringing forward high-quality award-winning PBSA developments.
"The design of the proposal considers its surrounding context, including height, materiality and uses, to ensure that the development is sympathetic to the local character and history as well as ensuring a high-quality, visually attractive development is achieved as a result of good architecture and placemaking."
The council's planning committee will review the application on 10 November.
A report for the committee said: "The scheme would provide economic and environmental benefits by means of employment, visitor spend during the construction phase and, over the long-term, supporting a significant number of jobs as well as providing an identified unmet demand of student accommodation."
Approval has been recommended.
Source: Insider Media