Designed by Darling Associates, Eutopia Homes’ plans will see 480 new homes, a hotel and commercial space developed in Birmingham city centre
The £130m Digbeth scheme is formed of seven blocks ranging from three to 26-storeys in height, joined together by walkways and landscaped public realm.
Approval from the secretary of state follows consents in Exeter and Salford for multi-tenure schemes incorporating a mix of build-to-rent and for-sale housing.
The housing will be joined by an eight-storey, 167-bed hotel and nearly 16,000 sq. ft. of affordable commercial space spread over a range of units.
The tallest tower will house 180 apartments, which will sit alongside a further 300 rental homes including 12 four-bedroom townhouses.
5% of the apartments will be affordable alongside a 50% reduction in the market rent for the commercial units to help facilitate ‘start-up’ businesses in the creative quarter of Digbeth.
Eutopia Homes’ development is designed to cater to the city’s growing workforce and support graduate retention by providing housing for both rent and sale that is well designed, high quality and accessibly priced.
A lengthy delay to important housing delivery
Scott Hammond, founder and CEO at Eutopia Homes, said: “We are pleased the secretary of state has agreed with the Planning Inspector and Birmingham City Council planning officers who recommended the application for approval in December 2019, that permission should be granted.
“It is a shame that members of the planning committee forced a lengthy delay to important job creation and housing delivery, as well as expenditure of public funds at appeal.
“Unfortunately planning committee members often make decisions without relevant training and against clear planning policy, with limited accountability for their decisions.
“Despite pledging to support growth with a brownfield-first agenda, it was disappointing to see mayor Andy Street lobby against this scheme which as acknowledged by the secretary of state and Planning Inspector as in a sustainable location suitable for the development proposed.”
The four-acre site on Camp Hill near Digbeth, where hit TV show Peaky Blinders is filmed, was acquired by Eutopia Homes and Chenavari Investment Managers in 2018 from Mucklow plc.
All three developments are funded by Chenavari Investment Managers and have been designed by Darling Associates.
