University wins fight to build 11 student blocks
RESIDENTS have lost a planning battle with the University of Birmingham over proposals to build nearly 500 new student bedrooms and a multi-storey car park.
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee had refused permission in January for a similar scheme on land off Pritchatts Road, in Edgbaston, over traffic fears and harm to a conservation area and character of the neighbourhood.
But now the committee has approved a scaled down application for 11 blocks containing 496 bed spaces (a reduction of 36) and a fourlevel multi-storey car park with 482 spaces (a reduction of 126 spaces).
Further changes include 101 fewer bed spaces fronting Pritchatts Road with more now being located near the existing Ashcroft halls of residence.
But not all residents with the changes.
Ian Metcalfe told the committee, said: “I live in a 17th century listed building on Pritchatts Road although today I feel more like David in the Valley of Elah facing the Goliath,
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He added: “In this application the university disingenuously talks repeatedly of reductions.
“The only thing which can truly be said to have been reduced is residents’ quiet enjoyment of their own homes.”
There were also formal objections from 60 other people along with Councillor Deirdre Alden (Con, Edgbaston) and Preet Gill, the former Labour MP for Edgbaston looking to
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of Birmingham.” defend her seat at the General Election. The university said it had listened to residents’ concerns and amended its plans accordingly.
Paul Rouse, from Savills planning consultants representing them, said: “The university has abandoned the previous scheme and is seeking approval for this revised scheme only because it believes it better addresses the wishes of local residents. The scheme is less favourable for the university in many ways but reflects a real desire to work the community.”
Tim Owen, manager for student accommodation at the university, said the blocks would be used for first-year students who wanted to stay on or close to the campus.
The committee voted in favour of the new plans.
Councillor Lou Robson (Lab, Hall Green North) said: “I don’t think you’ll ever get a proposal for this site that 100 per cent of people will be happy with and this really is an example where you have to do a lot of balancing on planning.”