Plans unveiled for 586-bedroom student accommodation complex

DESIGNS have been revealed for the latest major student accommodation development in Birmingham city centre.

Unite Students has unveiled its plans to build a new £40 million complex called International House, which will reach up to 14 storeys and contain 586 bedrooms, on a vacant plot in the city’s Gun Quarter.

The Bristol-based provider, which already operates four other halls in Birmingham, acquired the land in May this year but details on exactly what it was planning were limited at the time.

It has now lodged a planning application to build on land previ- ously occupied by self-storage facility Safestore between Staniforth Street and Lancaster Street.

Unite Students is seeking permission to demolish the existing buildings and construct a complex of three elements reaching six, ten and 14 storeys respectively, containing a mix of studios and shared flats, directly opposite its The Heights accommodation.

There will also be a café on the ground floor facing on to Staniforth Street and common room facilities on two floors.

Newly released computer-generated images show how the finished building will look.

Unite Students also operates Curzon Gateway, Londonderry House and Jennens Court and its five buildings in the city will collectively accommodate 3,300 students.

Birmingham’s historic Gun Quarter district has now become one of the main areas in which to build student accommodation.

Other projects in the vicinity include Threesixty Developments’ new complex in Bagot Street, Studios 51, Penworks House and Sanctuary Students.

Although privately run, International House will most likely attract students attending nearby Aston University and Birmingham City University when it opens in 2019.