Plans for two new student towers in Birmingham are moving forward despite local worries about their canalside location
Birmingham: So, there are plans for some new student towers in the Gun Quarter. They want to build two towers—one’s eight stories and the other is a whopping 21 stories. This will create 279 new bedspaces right by the canal on Cliveland Street.
Now, a council report says there’s a real need for this development. Plus, it’s in a great spot for students since it’s close to several city campuses. But not everyone is on board. The Canal and River Trust is worried that these towers will look too imposing and mess with the nice, open vibe of the canal area.
The report tackled these concerns head-on. It pointed out that there are already buildings on both sides of the canal. It basically said there’s no planning rule that stops this site from being developed just to keep it open. The report also mentioned that while the new buildings might be taller than what’s usually there, the canal is usually surrounded by buildings as it goes through the city.
They also noted that the design of the towers is pretty good for the area and would actually be an upgrade from what’s currently there. Sure, they might affect some historical sites nearby, like Barker Bridge and The Bull pub, but the report argued that the benefits of the new housing outweigh these concerns.
In the end, the report recommended that the plans get the green light, but with some conditions. The planning committee will take a look at it all next Thursday, January 16. Fingers crossed for the students!
