Plans to build 165 homes on the site of a former Birmingham masonic lodge in Edgbaston are set to be approved at a Birmingham City Council committee meeting on August 16. The proposal by developer Wavensmere Homes would transform the long-vacant brownfield site at Stirling Road, which has remained derelict since a significant fire in 2019.
Development Details and Housing Mix
The scheme, designed by architects Glancy Nicholls, includes 75 three-bedroom townhouses and 90 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The layout features an apartment block on the Hagley Road side, with three separate rows of townhouses between Clarendon Road and Stirling Road. Of the total homes, 12 are designated as affordable housing.
The former Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire Masons opened in 1971 and was originally used for conferences, exhibitions, and banquets. After the fire, the building was demolished in 2022, leaving the site vacant until now.
Council Support and Community Benefits
A report from the Council's planning officer recommends approval, stating: "The proposed development would secure the delivery of 165 no. homes in a sustainable location and would bring a long-term vacant brownfield site back into use. The proposed residential apartments and townhouses would make a meaningful contribution towards Birmingham's housing provision and would provide a significant number of 3-bedroom family homes, for which there is an evidenced need for in Edgbaston."
James Dickens, managing director of Wavensmere Homes, previously said: "Having seen this prominent site lay vacant for so long, we are very pleased to lodge our detailed planning application, which has the support of local people and stakeholders, and is commercially viable to deliver. We have been working alongside officers from Birmingham City Council on the collective approach and housing requirements for Clarendon since the start of the year."
Design Vision and Sustainability
Adam McPartland, managing director of Glancy Nicholls Architects, added: "In crafting our vision for this contemporary housing scheme, we've drawn inspiration from the rich historical tapestry of the area. Our design ethos – alongside the collaborative vision of Wavensmere Homes – places a significant emphasis on exemplary placemaking, intricately weaving modernity with the timeless charm of Edgbaston's grand residences."
He continued: "The detailed plans include both apartments and townhouses, to offer young professionals and families appropriate and attainable new homes that enable them to significantly lower their carbon footprint. The scheme design overcomes various brownfield site complexities and will greatly enhance the street scene along Hagley Road, Clarendon Road and Stirling Road."
Local Impact and Next Steps
The development is expected to address the evidenced need for family homes in Edgbaston, contributing to Birmingham's housing provision. While there is no scarcity of recent development along Hagley Road, Dickens noted that "so many sectors are not currently catered for," and the concept of delivering three-bedroom houses for young families has been well received during public consultation.
If approved, the project will bring a long-term vacant site back into use, enhancing the street scene and providing sustainable homes for the community. The committee meeting on August 16 will determine the final outcome.
