Final decision due on major student flats scheme

A final decision on revised plans for a major student accommodation development in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham is set to be made. The vote comes after the proposals were rejected earlier this month.A total of 1,187 units were proposed for the site of vacant Sainsbury’s supermarket in Bristol Road ahead of a meeting on Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday 7 January.HPH Selly Oak Property Ltd, which is registered in St Helier, Jersey, is behind the application which would have seen the supermarket demolished and replaced with student flats and ground floor commercial and community space.However, councillors voted that they were minded to refuse the application, with the plans now set to appear before the committee again for another vote on Friday 4 February.If the original decision is overturned, 45 full-time equivalent jobs would be created as well as about 250 full-time equivalent jobs on site during demolition and construction.A total of 31 car parking spaces would also be provided.The site would be run by the company’s operations and management team, Aparto.The plans were previously considered by the authority in November but a final decision was deferred to a future meeting.In the intervening period, a number of changes have been made including the reduction in height to buildings.