Birmingham’s Big 707-Unit, Student Housing Project, Gets Green Light

Key Highlights:

1. Plans were approved for a new student housing project with over 700 units in 31-storey towers in Birmingham’s city centre. 

2. Development will redevelop a former hospital site, retaining two historic listed buildings.

3. The project includes the demolition of existing 1990s student housing and the construction of new modern accommodations. 

4. 189 build-to-rent apartments to be built along with 707 purpose-built student rooms. 

5. The Birmingham City Council planning committee recommended approving the project to help meet the demand for student housing.

News in Detail:

The Birmingham City Council’s planning team gave a thumbs up to a massive student housing scheme in the city’s heart. Aventicum and McLaren Property, the developers, are pushing a scheme involving 707 custom-designed student housing units and 189 built-to-let flats on the old hospital site at Queens Hospital Close, Bath Row.

It’s out with the old – 1990s student flats the developers consider less architecturally significant – in with the new, plus some refurbishing. Two Grade II listed buildings, formerly part of the Birmingham Accident Hospital, stay put, getting a facelift as part of this project.

The student housing will be skyscraper style – hosted in up-to-31-storey towers. The renovated hospital buildings? They’ll be home to community amenities like a café and gym, open to both students and locals.

The developers made a pitch: Birmingham’s student numbers are swelling, and the old digs just don’t cut it anymore. The city council agreed in their reports, saying these plans sync with the city centre district’s revival efforts.

On February 1, 2024, the scheme got the Birmingham City Council planning group’s approval, albeit with some conditions. If all pans out as outlined, the project will introduce hundreds of fresh, purpose-built student pads in a sought-after location close to universities.

Summary:

The Birmingham City Council gave a thumbs up to Aventicum and McLaren Property’s idea of a big student housing project. Over 700 shiny new units are planned to pop up in two super-tall 31-story towers on an old hospital ground. They’re keeping two old blocks because they’re memories. The result? An old place gets a stunning makeover in the heart of the city with lots of new rooms created just for students.