Plans for a 47-storey residential skyscraper on Birmingham’s Broad Street have been officially refused by the city council, despite receiving initial approval from planners two years ago.
The ambitious development, which would have provided more than 500 homes-comprising a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments-was originally approved by Birmingham’s planning committee in 2024, contingent on the agreement of a legal contract.
Amenities proposed for the tower included a lobby area, residents’ lounge, gym, well-being space, and event facilities.
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During earlier discussions, councillors praised the scheme’s design but voiced concerns over the low percentage of affordable housing included, which stood at just 4% of the total apartments.
Andy Street, then West Midlands Mayor, publicly criticised the affordability provision, describing it as “utterly shameful” and emphasising the regional target of 20% affordable housing. He urged Birmingham City Council to adopt a tougher stance on affordable housing commitments.
However, a document published this week by the council confirms that the development has been refused. The refusal cites the absence of a suitable legal agreement to secure onsite affordable housing, public realm improvements, and noise mitigation measures. Consequently, the council stated the proposal “does not deliver sufficient benefits when weighed against the identified adverse impacts.”
A council officer’s report from 2024 had previously acknowledged the scheme’s potential to make a “meaningful contribution” towards addressing Birmingham’s housing shortfall, highlighting economic, social, and environmental benefits.
The report also revealed that an independent assessment found the development could sustain a 6% affordable housing contribution without compromising viability. However, concerns regarding tenant eligibility with a 20% discount led to a recommendation for a deeper discount of 30%, which would further reduce affordable housing to 4% (21 dwellings).
At the time, Cllr Martin Brooks, chair of the planning committee, expressed the committee’s ongoing desire to meet affordability targets but acknowledged the constraints posed by financial viability assessments, noting, “this does fall well short of that,” but the evidence made it challenging to justify higher levels.