UK: Sama Investment Group has secured planning consent for a 301-unit PBSA building in Birmingham.
A student accommodation building rising to 15 storeys and featuring more than 300 studios has been approved.
The site, off Pershore Street, is bound by the Arcadian shopping centre to the north, west and south. The proposed 15-storey building will comprise 301 studio units of student accommodation, a gym and lounge, with workspace.
A statement filed with Birmingham City Council on behalf of the applicant said: “The scale, massing and architecture of the development is appropriate for the location and the design and layout of the accommodation, together with the associated facilities provided, will create a safe, secure and welcoming living environment.”
“The design of the proposal development carefully considers its surrounding context including height, materiality and uses to ensure that the development is sympathetic to the local character, as well as ensuring a high-quality, visually attractive development is achieved as a result of good architecture and place making,” it added.
A report for Birmingham City Council’s planning committee said: “The provision of 301 units of student housing, for which there is an identified need in the city, is considered to be a significant public benefit of the scheme. The proposed development would result in some harm, particularly with regards to the lighting conditions within some habitable rooms of surrounding existing dwellings. However, it would result in significant public benefits as indicated above. There would also be public benefits in terms of the provision of significant biodiversity net gain.”
