750 homes to be built after hospital bulldozed But fate of old Victorian workhouse remains a mystery
UP to 750 new homes are to be built on the site of a Birmingham hospital. Major plans have been revealed for the wholesale redevelopment of the City Hospital site in Winson Green, which will be cleared to make way for the new estate.
The project, called Infirmary Wharf, has already attracted controversy over fears a crumbling Victorian workhouse – known as the Archway of Tears – will be lost.
However, the plans suggest the building does not form part of the redevelopment.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust submitted the planning application for the site to Birmingham City Council.
It proposes the demolition of most of the hospital buildings, except the frontage of the Victorian Infirmary Building, and a phased redevelopment comprising up to 700 houses and shops.
The Infirmary Building turned into 49 apartments.
The estate will comprise homes ranging from apartments to houses with up to six bedrooms.
There will also be a new pedestrian bridge and cycleway over Birmingham Canal Old Main Line.
A statement from urban design firm eScape said: “The proposals for Infirmary Wharf demonstrate that residential development can be more than ‘just another housing estate’ by creating a sustainable and contemporary response to the housing needs of the city in a form that is complementary to its city centre fringe location, is outward looking, permeable and just as accessible to the existing community as well as new residents.”
The hospital was first opened in 1852 and was added to over the years and the famous Workhouse Infirmary was constructed in 1888.
The new Midland Metropolitan Hospital in nearby Smethwick will open in 2018, replacing some servic- will be es at the old site, but not all. Toby Lewis, chief executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The City Hospital site will change in line with the opening of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital in autumn 2018.
“Outpatient care and day case surgery will continue to be provided from the Birmingham Treatment Centre on the City Hospital site.
“The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre will also remain, along with the Sheldon Building which houses recovery and rehabilitation services.”
The project in Dudley Road feeds into wider plans to regenerate this part of west Birmingham. Last year, plans were unveiled to build around 3,000 homes alongside new shops, schools and leisure space under the banner of Greater Icknield Masterplan.
This includes Icknield where 1,400 homes are alongside the canal. Port Loop proposed