UK: Birmingham City Council’s planning committee is reconsidering plans for three BTR towers, which would result in the Smallbrook Ringway Centre being demolished.
Developer CEG was granted consent at the end of September, by seven votes to six, to deliver up to 1,750 BTR apartments across 44, 48 and 56 storeys on the Grade B listed site.
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee had decided on the first phase – the demolition of the three existing buildings and the first proposed 547-apartment tower – and was set to consider an outline planning application for two other buildings.
The first building, SBQ 3, would comprise 245 one-bedroom, 270 two-bedroom, and 32 three-bedroom apartments. SBQ 1 and SBQ 2 propose another 1,085 apartments in 44- and 56-storey towers.
Although the outline proposals would mean the scheme has a total of 1,635 units, the overall hybrid planning application is seeking planning permission for a total of up to 1,750 units. There would also be up to 76,000 square feet of commercial floor space.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Following discussion of these proposals at Planning Committee in September 2023, further submissions have been received. These will likely be considered by a report back to Planning Committee in the New Year. However, this is still a live planning application, so we are not able to discuss it while it’s going through this process.”
The plans have been vigorously opposed by campaign group Save Smallbrook, which comprises Brutiful Birmingham, Birmingham Modernist Society, The Twentieth Century Society and Birmingham’s Zero Carbon House.
Twentieth Century Society (C20), placed Smallbrook Ringway on its 2023 Risk List of the top 10 buildings in the UK most under threat.
A C20 spokesperson said: “The decision to reconsider the recent planning decision is a welcome step from Birmingham City Council, and a milestone in efforts to save this Brummie landmark. Given that members of the Planning Committee were materially mislead by parts of the Officers report, and a mistake of fact by councillors remained uncorrected, the council had a legal obligation to revisit the committees decision. Consent for demolition was ultimately carried by just a single vote. C20 and the coalition of local campaign groups are pro-development, but anti-demolition. Smallbrook Ringway Centre is an important part of the city’s Post-War heritage, that with imagination and investment could renewed as a vibrant 21st century gateway to Birmingham, without resorting to the wrecking ball.”
CEG has been contacted for comment on the planning decision and comments from C20.
