Plans to construct a major student accommodation block on the site of a historic Birmingham pub have been rejected by the city's planning committee.
Controversial Proposal for City Centre Site
Developers sought permission to build a 16-storey building containing 263 student bed spaces at the corner of Swallow Street and Hill Street. This location was once home to The Golden Eagle, a beloved music venue that closed in 1984 before being demolished.
The scheme proposed shared internal amenity spaces and commercial use at ground floor level, with developers arguing it would respect the area's historical and emerging context.
Heritage Concerns Outweigh Benefits
Although a council officer's report recommended approval, acknowledging economic and environmental benefits including the efficient use of brownfield land, it also recognised the development would cause less than substantial harm to heritage assets including the Town Hall and The Former General Post Office.
Councillor Philip Davis expressed particular concern about the building's height, stating: "I think the height of it is the problem so I'm not particularly keen to see the development go ahead without some further changes."
Debate Over Student Accommodation Need
Councillor Gareth Moore questioned whether the city required more student accommodation, arguing: "That harm would be mitigated if this actually delivered something the city needs, something that contributed to helping the many people who are desperate for a home in the city."
However, planning committee chair Councillor Lee Marsham countered that there was a clear need for purpose-built student accommodation, noting the scheme had already been reduced from 45 storeys to 16 to minimise heritage impact while maintaining viability.
Despite these arguments, Birmingham Council's planning committee ultimately voted to refuse the proposals, with the council officer suggesting the application could return to a future meeting addressing the raised concerns.
