Student Accommodation Approved In Birmingham’s Selly Oak former battery site
The detailed designs for a major mixed-use development which is set to transform Selly Oak’s former Battery site have been approved.
The Harvest Partnership, a joint venture between Land Securities and Sainsbury’s, secured outline planning approval in autumn 2013 to regenerate the derelict industrial site into a new retail destination.
Since then, the partnership has further developed and consulted on the design details relating to the retail and student accommodation elements of the scheme, as well as the pedestrian and cycle routes.
The reserved matters application, which has been given the green light by Birmingham City Council, focused on scale, layout, appearance, landscaping and access.
While the retail element of the scheme has not altered significantly, the canal-side student accommodation’s footprint has been slightly reduced and its design has evolved into a series of three interlinked buildings.
This element is also now separated from the adjacent Sainsbury’s store and is set to become a gateway landmark for Selly Oak.
Meanwhile, the 70,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s store and restaurant will be located at first floor level, with ground floor parking below.
The retail element of the scheme will comprise a terrace of shops which will be fronted by a colonnaded arcade. The areas outside the cafes and restaurants will accommodate terraces with outdoor seating.
Chris Fleetwood, development director for Land Securities, said We’re delighted to have received planning approval for the detailed design of key elements of the scheme. The key themes of the development remain mostly unchanged but the design of certain aspects has rightly evolved, taking into account feedback from consultants.
With the remediation of the Battery site well underway, we are now looking forward to making a start on construction in 2016….