Second chance for hundreds of city centre flats bid

Delayed plans to transform the site of a multi-storey car park into almost 400 apartments are set to be voted on for a second time.Pershore Street, a joint venture partnership between Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital, submitted the proposals to develop the 371-space Pershore Street car park site within the Gooch Street Estate in November 2017.Birmingham City Council’s planning committee voted to defer making a final decision at a meeting on Thursday 21 June until further investigation into the noise impact the scheme could have on the neighbourhood.The application will now go before the committee again at a meeting on Thursday 16 August.If approved, The Timber Yard would also comprise street level perimeter commercial units and ground floor covered car park and ancillary uses.The development, designed by Claridge Architects, would also include a large landscaped courtyard garden for residents, concierge service, sheltered bicycle storage and access to landscaped pocket parks.Charles Gillett, of Pennycuick Collins, advised the Gooch Estate, which retains its freehold interest in the site.The Gooch family, who owned the estate, started to develop the area in the late 18th century.The first 99-year lease agreements for the newly built properties on Lower Hurst Street date from 1834.The area evolved into a dense mix of three-storey shops and factories, including a timber and scrap metal yard, as well as plywood and aluminium works.By 1970 most of the shops and factories had been demolished and car parking had been introduced.