A PLANNING application to build hundreds of homes in Longbridge’s new Austin Village will be decided on tomorrow (October 19).
The proposals, put forward by St Modwen, to build 356 apartments across two sites next to the Austin Retirement Village and South and City College, formerly Bournville College, will be voted on by Birmingham City Council.
The first building, One Park Square, could consist of 208 apartments across five to nine floors with access to 97 parking spaces and, Two Park Square could consist of 156 apartments across six floors, with access to 86 parking spaces.
The breakdown of the properties at One Park Square would be 108 one-bedroom (52 per cent), 78 two-bedroom (38 per cent) and 22 three-bedroom (10 per cent).
And the breakdown of properties at Two Park Square would be 82 one-bedroom (53 per cent), 59 two bedroom (38 per cent) and 15 three-bedroom (9 per cent).
Developer, St Modwen have put forward a preferred proposal to provide 10 per cent of the homes as affordable, with 7.5 per cent offered at an 80 per cent discount to market value and 2.5 per cent at a 30 per cent discount to market value.
This scenario would give Birmingham City Council up to 38 affordable homes over the two schemes however another proposal offering up to 19 units comprising of 3.75 per cent social rent and 1.25 per cent at 80 per cent below market value has also been proposed.
The second scenario would offer 50 per cent of the social rent units as 3 bedroom properties.
Correspondence between Birmingham City Council’s planning department and the developers said planning officers would be allowed to outline their preferred scenario at the upcoming meeting.
It appears scenario two would more closely address the city’s housing needs.
Various objections have been made against the proposals with concerns mostly surrounding the lack of parking in comparison to the number of homes, noise complaints, views from balconies, and a lack of defined private amenity space for residents.
