Plans to build 480 homes and a hotel in Digbeth have been left in limbo over fears they could scupper a major expansion to railway services in Birmingham.
Eutopia Land's scheme would transform a 4.2acre plot at Camp Hill, currently occupied by Swiss engineering firm Sulzer which is relocating to Birmingham Business Park near the NEC. The plans feature seven blocks, ranging from three to 26 storeys in height, mainly featuring apartments as well as a dozen town houses.
There would also be nearly 16,000sq ft of commercial space, a 167-bed hotel and dozens of undercroft car parking spaces. The scheme would also create around 180 jobs.
But there are widespread fears the development could jeopardise a long-time project to construct the 'Bordesley Chords' - new viaducts which would provide further access into Moor Street Station and significantly increase rail services through Birmingham.
A host or organisations have objected including Midlands Connect, West Midlands Rail Executive, Transport for West Midlands among a number of local groups and more than 40 people who wrote letters to the council against the plans.
Addressing Birmingham City Council's planning committee yesterday (Thursday, December 5) former Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho, now an independent transport consultant, said: "The construction of the chords is a vital part of the future transport infrastructure needed to accommodate the growth in the city and wider region."
She added: "We have a unique situation of industry agreement, public body unity and political accord. It would seem perverse then given such alignment that this committee was to ignore such a concord on a transport matter in order to pass this development."
The committee ultimately voted to defer the planning application to see if further talks could take place with bodies such as Transport for West Midlands to see if their concerns could be addressed. Council planning officers had recommended the scheme be granted approval in light of the fact Eutopia had amended the layout of the proposals following talks with Network Rail.
The rail authority has not objected to the scheme and confirmed there is no final fixed design for the Bordesley Chords at this stage, that it is not yet known what land will be required while the full business case for the project is not due to be finalised until the end of 2022.
Alex Chapman, of Terence O'Rourke planning consultants speaking on behalf of Eutopia, said: "Following consultation with council officers and Network Rail, the application was amended to secure the future alignment of the rail scheme, Network Rail has welcomed the changes made to the layout to safeguard and facilitate the chords."
It is expected the planning application will be deferred no longer than six weeks and be brought back before the committee in January. The Bordesley Chords - or the Camp Hill Chords as they are also known - would allow more services into Birmingham on the Camp Hill Line as well as the reopening of the Sutton Park Line through east Birmingham which is currently freight only.
The Camp Hill Line is due to reopen to passengers by the end of 2021 serving Moseley and Kings Heath . But the services will run into New Street which is already nearing capacity whereas the chord will allow trains to run into Moor Street meaning more services per hour.
A joint statement from the West Midlands Rail Executive and Transport for West Midlands said: “We welcome the opportunity for further discussions with Birmingham City Council and the developers. The Bordesley Chords is an important infrastructure project which will unlock extra train capacity at Moor Street Station and is vital for the future expansion our rail network across Birmingham and the West Midlands."
