A significant redevelopment project that promises to create a new 'gateway' into Birmingham's creative heartland is poised to receive the green light from city planners this week.
Transforming a City Block
The ambitious Phoenix Yard scheme, proposed for a plot of land adjacent to Digbeth High Street, has been formally recommended for approval ahead of a crucial planning committee meeting on Thursday, November 20. The development aims to radically transform an entire city block in an area increasingly known as Birmingham's blossoming creative quarter.
Located opposite the massive Smithfield regeneration project and close to key city assets like the HS2 Curzon Street Station and the BBC Typhoo Tea Factory, the application site occupies a strategically important position. Developers are seeking permission to construct two primary blocks for commercial and education purposes, with one reaching up to six storeys and another up to four storeys.
Mixed-Use Vision for Digbeth
In a broader outline application, permission is also being sought for a substantial mix of uses across two additional blocks. This includes proposals for up to 205 residential units, 576 student bedspaces, 228 co-living private bedrooms, and 450 hotel rooms. A council officer's report clarified that the proposals seek permission for any combination of these potential uses.
The vision extends beyond buildings to include a significant amount of new public space. Plans feature a 'central square' designed to become a hub for social interaction, alongside an 'amenity lawn', rooftop terraces, and a dedicated resident's park.
Weighing the Benefits and Harms
The council officer's report, which recommends approval subject to a legal agreement, outlines several key benefits. These include the provision of new homes and commercial floorspace, the potential for a new hotel, high-quality public realm, and the productive reuse of brownfield land.
However, the report also acknowledges certain drawbacks, notably the loss of employment land and what is described as 'less than substantial harm' to the Digbeth High Street conservation area. The officer attributed only limited weight to these harms, stating that the harm to heritage assets would be at the 'lowest end' of the scale and that the heritage benefits of the scheme carry greater weight.
To make way for the new development, all existing buildings on the application site would be demolished, with the exception of the Smithfield Garage, which is slated for partial demolition and refurbishment. If approved, the Phoenix Yard development is set to forever alter the landscape of Digbeth, establishing a new key entrance to this vibrant part of the city.
