‘Shocking carbuncle is blight on our village’ Former landlord of neighbouring pub slams design of apartments
ANEW apartment block has been described as a ‘carbuncle’ by the award-winning former licensee of the historic pub next door.
Keith Marsden launched a petition to try to prevent the development called Moseley Central.
But despite gathering 20,000 signatories opposing the scheme, Birmingham City Council approved the plans.
Although he has recently retired, Mr Marsden fears Moseley Central has transformed the Victorian look of the south Birmingham ‘village’ for worse and is worried about the effect it will have on the pub’s future.
The Prince of Wales dates back to 1861 and has a large beer gar- den. Son Joe has taken over the pub and the group’s two sister businesses – the nearby Dark Horse and the British Oak in Stirchley. The new block is rectangular and significantly bigger than the buildings on either side. Mr Marsden, who was voted UK licensee of the year in 2015 by the British Institute of Innkeeping, said: “Welcome to Moseley’s new carbuncle. It is ugly – aesthetically it is just not nice to look at. “And its construction has been disastrous from a business point of view. “Birmingham has come quite a long way with its approach to architecture in recent years, but not here. “Moseley Central does nothing for the village commercially. “It does nothing for the local architecture and nothing for the pub or the people who use it. “I think the view is more shocking if you are coming up the A lcester Road from the city when it sticks out like a sore thumb.” I n 2015, The Sunday Times declared Moseley Village was the best place to live in the UK and it was the only part of Birmingham featured in the Midlands’ category in 2017 when it was described as a “lively mix of arty events, one-off pubs and shops, open green spaces and Victorian houses”.
But Mr Marsden added: “The building that used to be there before Moseley Central housed a Moneywise shop, a kind of forerunner to Poundland.
“That was an ugly building and you would have thought that it would have been hard to come up with anything uglier, but I think they have managed it with Moseley Central.”
Built by the Birmingham Property Group, the dog-leg shaped building has 46 units and a car park.
Property agents Knight Frank are marketing the scheme, saying: “Moseley Central is situated right at the heart of Moseley’s vibrant community scene and as such, benefits from being on the doorstep of the village’s many events and activities.
“We don’t need to tell you why to move here. The beautiful green spaces; independent shops and eateries; award-winning events and Moseley culture speaks for itself.
“These new build apartments will offer you a great opportunity to live the urban village lifestyle and are available to reserve now.”
However, Moseley Society secretary Fiona Adams was not as concerned about the development as Mr Marsden.
She said: “I haven’t had the chance to have a proper look at it yet because I live on the other side of Moseley, but from what I’ve seen it is not too bad and makes a good contribution to the street scene.
“It’s pretty close to the original 2007 plans so we are pleased with that.
“Speaking personally, I think it’s good, modern architecture rather than pastiche Victorian, and I like the detail around the windows.
“But I am disappointed with the usage and that it’s not offices with increased daytime trade – I sympathise tremendously with Keith about the use of it.”
Welcome to Moseley’s new carbuncle... It is ugly – it is just not nice to look at Ex Prince of Wakes licensee Keith Marsden, below left