Birmingham City Council's planning committee has approved plans to build 165 homes on the former site of a Masonic lodge in Edgbaston. The development, proposed by Wavensmere Homes, will include 75 three-bedroom townhouses and 90 one and two-bedroom apartments, according to the planning documents.
The site, located between Clarendon Road and Stirling Road, off Hagley Road, was formerly home to a Birmingham Masonic lodge designed by architect John Madin. The building served as a well-known events venue until its closure in 2014, hosting conferences and exhibitions, and also functioned as the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire Masons. However, it was demolished after a fire in early 2019.
Addressing Housing Demand in Edgbaston
Ben Clarke, development director for Wavensmere Homes, said: “This development will help to address the significant unmet demand for family houses in Edgbaston, while transforming a prominent derelict site in the process.”
Clarke added: “Our design ethos places a significant emphasis on placemaking, intricately pairing requirements of modern living with the timeless charm of Edgbaston’s grand residences. Clarendon has been designed to overcome various brownfield site complexities and it will greatly enhance the street scene along Hagley Road, Clarendon Road and Stirling Road.”
Design and Community Features
The development will feature three rows of townhouses between Clarendon Road and Stirling Road, alongside an apartment building on Hagley Road. Residents will have access to a shared communal garden at the heart of the development, with the houses also benefiting from private terraces, according to Jacob Bonehill, planning director for Tetra Tech.
Bonehill said: “This is a fantastic scheme in a sustainable location with great public transport connections. The future residents will have access to a shared communal garden at the heart of the development, with the houses also benefitting from private terraces. These innovative design features ensure that Wavensmere’s development plans will make efficient use of this long vacant brownfield site.”
Approval and Next Steps
The plans were officially approved last week by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee. Clarke expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating: “We are pleased that Birmingham City Council’s planning committee shares our vision for this prominent site and has approved our plans.”
The approval marks the end of a lengthy process for the site, which has remained vacant since the fire in 2019. Construction is expected to begin in the near future, with the development aimed at meeting the significant demand for family housing in the Edgbaston area.
