Residents of huge block will face sleepless nights Councillor’s noise fears over new tower near city nightspot
RESIDENTS of what will be one of Birmingham’s tallest apartment blocks face having their peace and quiet shattered by latenight Broad Street revellers, councillors have warned.
There are concerns that, because the proposed 31-storey tower at the ‘Left Bank’ scheme fronts on to Broad Street, the noise from traffic, rowdy behaviour and even brawls will prove too much for residents to bear and lead to complaints.
City planners remain concerned that noise nuisance complaints from new flats could lead to established pubs and clubs being closed – as happened to the Fiddle and Bone live jazz music venue in 2002.
Developer Regal was presenting its revised plans for the site on the junction of Broad Street and Sheepcote Street. A 22-storey apartment block, called Regal Tower 1, is already under construction on the site and due for completion in summer 2018.
The second tower was originally designed as an 18-storey hotel on Broad Street but a company spokesman told the planning committee that the impact of the Brexit vote had forced them to drop that scheme.
They are now looking to put up one of Birmingham’s tallest residential towers with 206 flats, due to be completed by 2019 if planning permission is granted.
However, the city’s planning committee was asked to comment on the designs before a formal planning application is submitted and raised a series of concerns.
Coun Barry Henley (Lab, Brandwood) said: “I don’t think it’s appropriate that we put apartments overlooking directly on to Broad Street.
“On Friday and Saturday nights, there would be noise, taxi marshals, drunks, fights.
“The original plan was to have the hotel as a buffer between the residents and Broad Street. I have no objections to a 31-storey residential tower but, if it was set back, the residents would be much happier.”
Chief planning officer Richard
On Friday and Saturday nights, there would be noise, taxi marshals, drunks, fights Councillor Barry Henley
Goulborn countered, saying the Rotunda showed that a residential tower could be sited on a busy street without life becoming unbearable for those living there.
Further concerns were raised over the lack of parking spaces – although developer Regal has pledged £100,000 for a car club scheme.
Mark Holbeche, director of development at Regal, said: “Given Left Bank’s vibrant, city centre location, achieving effective noise elimination for this scheme has always been a priority for us.
“We have worked closely with our architects and acoustics consultants to ensure the two residential buildings are designed and constructed to effectively handle local sound levels both day and night so residents are not disturbed.”
He added: “Demand for highquality homes already far outstrips supply and is projected to increase further with the likes of HSBC and other companies investing in the city.”