Plans to construct high-rise apartment blocks on Birmingham Road, a gateway into Sutton Coldfield, have been abandoned by the new owners of the shopping parade. Previously, Mercia Real Estate Limited had proposed demolishing the existing row of shops to build blocks up to five storeys high, featuring some 75 apartments with retail units at ground level. However, the new owners, London-based property company Tri Capital, have confirmed that these plans are not viable and will not proceed.
The shopping parade, which stretches between numbers 10 and 38 Birmingham Road, currently contains 18 retail units, of which 10 are occupied, including popular establishments such as Rudy’s pizzeria and Just Perfect Nails. The rest remain vacant.
The original proposal by Mercia Real Estate aimed to replace the existing shops with blocks comprising 16 one-bedroom and 59 two-bedroom apartments, with the commercial units retained at street level. This plan met with considerable local opposition, including 64 formal objections from residents and community groups like Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council’s planning committee and the Sutton Coldfield Civic Society. Concerns were raised about the height and density of the proposed blocks, which would have overshadowed neighbouring homes on College Hill and appeared overbearing compared to the existing three-storey Jacey Buildings.
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Although Birmingham’s planning committee initially approved the application, despite objections from local representatives such as Councillor David Pears, the new owners have decided against pursuing the development.
Matt Pegg of Creative Retail, the Birmingham estate agents now marketing the parade for Tri Capital, explained: “The apartment block plan wasn’t viable due to the significant increase in building costs. It makes more sense to retain existing tenants and concentrate on revitalising the parade without demolition. High-density, high-rise schemes are not supported or feasible in this context.”
A programme of capital expenditure has already begun to refurbish vacant units, aiming to attract new retail and potentially residential occupiers. Some units will be available on a freehold basis, while others will be leasehold. The intention is to have a fully occupied parade within six to twelve months.
Local councillor David Pears welcomed the news, describing it as “double good news.” He commented: “The proposed apartments looked generic and could have been anywhere. Retaining the individual shops preserves the town’s character and reduces parking pressures.”
Tri Capital’s head of asset management, Iain Blakeley, expressed confidence in the parade’s future: “We are already seeing strong interest from local owner-occupiers and national operators like Rudy’s Pizza. We believe this parade will become a focal point for Sutton Coldfield’s town centre for years to come.”
Refurbishment works are underway at several vacant units, including the former Bar 28, the old Otto Pizza shop, a former estate agency, AMC Aesthetics premises, and the ex-picture gallery, Framework. The upper floor, previously the Miele cookery school, is also being refreshed.
Creative Retail’s director, George Xydias, highlighted the parade’s location within Sutton’s bustling ‘Restaurant Quarter’ and expressed optimism: “Tri Capital’s plans will revitalise Birmingham Road, which is already the heart of food and beverage in Sutton Coldfield. We expect this announcement to generate significant interest from owner-occupiers, investors, and new tenants alike.”