Secretary of state signs off £130m mixed-use scheme

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has approved plans to build 480 homes alongside a new hotel and commercial space in Birmingham city centre.Brought forward by Eutopia Homes, the £130m scheme is formed of seven blocks ranging from three to 26 storeys in height, joined together by walkways and landscaped public realm.The tallest tower will house 180 apartments, which will sit alongside a further 300 rental homes including 12 four-bedroom townhouses.The housing will be joined by an eight-storey, 167-bed hotel and nearly 16,000 sq ft of affordable commercial space spread over a range of units.Five per cent of the apartments will be affordable alongside a 50 per cent reduction in the market rent for the commercial units to help facilitate start-up businesses in the creative quarter of Digbeth.The four-acre site on Camp Hill near Digbeth was acquired by Eutopia Homes and Chenavari Investment Managers in 2018 from Mucklow.