Plans to transform the site of a former Masonic lodge in Edgbaston into 165 new homes have been recommended for approval by Birmingham City Council officers, despite concerns about heritage and tree loss.
Proposal Details
The development, proposed for the former Clarendon Suites site off Hagley Road, would deliver 75 townhouses and 90 apartments. The venue, designed by renowned architect John Madin, served as a conference and exhibition centre before closing in 2014 and was later demolished following a fire in early 2019.
According to a council report, the scheme would include amenity space, landscaping, and public realm improvements. The site has remained vacant since the fire, making it a key brownfield redevelopment opportunity.
Benefits Outlined
A council officer stated that the development would bring several advantages to the area. These include family housing, green space, temporary construction jobs, and enhanced biodiversity. The report highlights that a significant number of three-bedroom family homes would be provided, addressing an evidenced need in Edgbaston.
“The proposed development would secure the delivery of 165 homes in a sustainable location and would bring a long-term vacant brownfield site back into use,” the officer wrote.
Heritage and Environmental Concerns
However, the proposal acknowledges a “low level of less than substantial harm” to the Grade II listed 215 Hagley Road. The development would also result in the loss of seven trees, but this would be offset by planting 156 new trees across the site, according to the report.
The officer concluded that the benefits “outweigh the identified harms” and recommended approval. The scheme would also contribute to affordable housing, in line with local and national planning policy.
Decision Expected
The application will be considered by Birmingham Council’s planning committee on Thursday, August 13. If approved, the development would provide a significant boost to housing supply in the area, bringing a long-vacant site back into productive use.
