Council approves Birmingham canalside student blocks after developers revise the initial design for better street interaction.
The project includes two towers for students. One is eight stories, and the other is 21 stories tall. They will provide 279 beds. These are near city center campuses.
The council delayed the decision earlier. They wondered about a ground floor shop. A shop might improve safety. People could see others walking by. However, similar shops were not rented before.
Student housing has limited ground floor options. The developer changed the ground floor design. They added a larger lounge and coffee bar. This aims to bring more life to street level. The council also considered a retail unit.
A retail unit could add activity. But communal rooms can also do this. The committee revisited the plans on February 13. Not everyone was happy.
One council member said developers did not improve the street. Another welcomed the changes. He thought more could be done.
A planning manager said the design was pushed to its limits. It interacts with the street and canal well, he said. The council approved the plans.