Derelict railway site in inner-city Birmingham set to be transformed into ‘vibrant’ community

Images have captured how the site of derelict former railway sidings in inner-city Birmingham is set to be transformed into a “vibrant” new community. Earlier this month, plans to provide 451 homes across seven residential blocks in Winson Green were given the green light.

These towers for the Great Western Close development, according to a planning application, would range between five and nine storeys high. Those behind the project have said this week the plans will provide affordable housing, public green spaces and “breathe new life” into the area.

Mark Williams, director at Whittam Cox Architects, said: “We believe these proposals will greatly complement and enhance this aspirational area of the city, providing high-quality, affordable living and ensuring a long-term sustainable use for the site". Ronald Whitehouse, director at Rochda Group, added they want to create a “vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood for generations to come”.

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“We have crafted a transformative project that not only addresses the need for affordable housing but also enhances the fabric of the community,” he continued. Many of the ground floor apartments would have private garden areas while many others would feature private balconies at upper levels.

The development would also have various areas of open space for the private use of residents and a children’s play area for the wider public. A previous planning application for the site in Great Western Close, this one for 310 homes, was approved back in 2021.

However, a council officer’s report published prior to this month’s planning committee meeting noted that the applicant wanted to get approval for a “more intensive form of development” at the site. Gareth Hooper, chief executive officer at DPP, said: “This scheme took an existing permission and achieved a much higher density of development while also delivering a higher quality scheme with significantly more community benefits, including affordable housing.”

Birmingham City Council usually seeks 35 per cent affordable homes for residential developments of 15 dwellings or more. The council report said a “detailed viability assessment” had been considered as part of the proposals and although the scheme was deemed unviable, a suitable level of on-site affordable housing provision was agreed.

“It has been concluded that the current offer of 6 per cent, in the form of on-site, market discounted homes for first homes and affordable rental units, would be the option with the greatest benefit to the city,” it went on to say. “The Affordable Housing Team supports this recommendation and adds that there is a high need for such units within this area of the city.”

Meanwhile, addressing a concern over the housing mix, principal planning officer Idris Gulfraz said during the meeting: “More than half the units, 59 per cent, are two and three beds. So the overall number of one bed units lies at 41 per cent, which is a betterment when we look at the previous consent.”

The proposals were approved by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday, June 13, subject to a legal agreement. One of the recommended conditions was the payment of a new viability assessment upon an agreed level of occupancy being reached at the development.

“Should the new financial appraisal identify that the development could sustain a planning obligation, above and beyond the agreed 6 per cent, this shall then take the form of affordable housing (on-site) or an off-site financial contribution towards affordable housing elsewhere in the city,” the report said.

The proposal was an outline application, meaning the matters of landscape and appearance are reserved for future determination.

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