Jewellery Quarter

[Erebus555]

Interesting news.

Council U-turn to save historic city metal firm
One of Birmingham's oldest metal-bashing firms edged closer to survival after councillors changed their minds over a controversial Jewellery Quarter redevelopment plan.

Proposals to demolish the A E Harris buildings in North-wood Street and build flats, shops and small industrial units on the site were backed by the council planning committee yesterday.

The committee had previously resisted the application, on the grounds that the land is zoned chiefly for manufacturing in the Jewellery Quarter Development Plan.

But members changed their minds after being told that A E Harris was inn danger of going out of business if it could not use the money raised from selling the site to move to a smaller out-of-town industrial estate.

A report to the planning committee warned: "The company has to relocate if it is to survive. If permission is refused there is a real danger that existing jobs will be lost and the site will become derelict losing the opportunity to improve the appearance of the conservation area and to provide new employment opportunities."




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Claims that approval would "open the floodgates" for widespread housing development in the Jewellery Quarter were dismissed by the report.


A E Harris managing director Russell Luckock welcomed the decision, which he said gave the company hope for survival.


Mr Luckock said: "Hopefully, this will give us a way of keeping the show on the road.


"We have been here for 126 years. The reason we are having to move is because of the severe competition from the Far East."


A E Harris once employed more than 250 people. It now has a workforce of 58.


A final decision on the Northwood Street redevelopment plan will be made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.


Mr Luckock added: "We are keeping our fingers crossed. I am absolutely convinced that the development being proposed will enhance the Jewellery Quarter, which has changed out of all recognition over the years."

[Engels]

The council finally sees sense, i wonder how many jobs were lost in the interim..

[Biosonic]

There was something over the weekend in the Post saying that there are is over £150 million worth of apartments planned in the JQ in the next few years

[woodhousen]

read the "rough diamond" (not the towers) article above... very interesting reading and very encouraging

[Blunther]

One bed apartments in Octohedron going for £110k on Rightmove...

I'm thinking about it.....

[FLD]

Originally Posted by Blunther

One bed apartments in Octohedron going for £110k on Rightmove...

I'm thinking about it.....

A wise investment move if you do Blunther, this area will see huge increases in property value over the next 10 years.

[Biosonic]

Seriously worth thinking about Blunther - this is the only part of Birmingham that faces a significant increase in apartment prices (as the quarter develops).

Eventually Masshouse will, but that will take longer.

[Blunther]

Pap, it's actually only for the Birmingham City Workers scheme, whatever the hell that is...

Still....one bed apartments in Abacus on Cheapside...good buy for the future you all reckon?

It's them bloody service charges that get me though... the mortgage I can stretch to, but an extra £100 a month for some ass to clean the widnows every other month I can't be doing with....

[MJH]

The city worker scheme is quite good actually, all you need to do is demonstrate that you work in the centre and that you are not going to rent it out.

[Blunther]

What do they mean by the 'centre'?

I'm guessing the University doesn't count....

[feltip]

Well, im sure you could be a key worker, adding to the teaching of undergrads and the knowledge economy.

Though might depend what you do at uni.

[Grendel]

it'll also mean that no secure parking place will be allocated for you either -



if you work in the city apparantly you don't need a car

[Erebus555]

Something in BP today about lower priced car parking here

[brum2003]

A full list of applications for the Jewellery Quarter

C/05194/06/FUL - 108 Vyse Street (Creative Watch) - Install 3 windows to front elevation.
C/05261/06/FUL - 31 Lionel Street (Cornwall House) - Erection of additional storey and refurbishment of existing building.
C/04778/06/CAC - 99/105 Northwood Street - Demolition of existing vacant workshop & office (single & two storey).
C/04957/06/ADV - 36 Frederick St - Tesco - Display of 2no internally illuminated projecting signs, 1no. internally illuminated fascia sign and 1no.ATM surround panel. (Note internally illuminated signs not allowed in Conservation Areas - signs must be externally illuminated).
C/04844/06/LBC - 32/36 Albion Street - INDUSTRIAL MIDDLE. Alteration and extension & Alterations and extension to front & new build at rear - to create commercial and live/work units.
C/03070/06/FUL - 6-8 Branston Street - (GOLDEN TRIANGLE) - Conversion of 1st & 2nd floor workshops (B1) to 2 two bedroom flats & 1 two bedroom live/work unit, including external alterations & 2 rear roof dormers - (re-submission of C/04106/05/FUL).
C/04215/06/LBC: 47 Frederick Street - Grade II Listed - Internal refit to offices on 1st/2nd floors, provision of new WC’s & removal of internal walls.
C/03630/06/CAC - 28 Carver Street - Demolition of existing building and C/03629/06/FUL - Erection of 7 apartments and one retail/commercial A1/A2 unit & parking.
C/03628/00/FUL - 34 Carver Street - Erection of 24 apartments and one retail/commercial A1/A2 unit and parking for 24 vehicles.
C/03631/06/CAC - 30 Carver Street - Demolition of existing building.
C/03528/06/FUL - Regent House, Frederick Street. (INDUSTRIAL MIDDLE). Change of use from workshops to commercial (GF/1st and 2nd Floors) and live/work units on 4th and 5th floors.
C/03856/08/FUL - Corner Frederick Street/Warstone Lane.
Installation of shop-front (Tesco), ATM and rooftop plant - (plus gantry with large TESCO sign and outside trolley park).
C/03280/06/LBC - C/03282/06/FUL - 93-94 Vyse Street (GRADE II LISTED) - GOLDEN TRIANGLE - (‘Clissolds’ & ‘Toghill’) buildings. Refurbishment of building, erection of rear extension, change of use to A3 (Licensed restaurant) and workshops.
C/03178/06/FUL - Pemberton Street - Demolition of existing industrial works in Conservation area and erection of a 3 storey apartment block comprising of 10 No.2 bed, 2 No.1 bed apartments along with associated hard and soft landscaping.
3188/06/CAC - 23-26 George Street - Demolition of existing buildings.
* OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION - C/07490/05/OUT - 32-46 Branston Street - (GOLDEN TRIANGLE) - Erection of 25 one bedroomed APARTMENTS in a 5 storey building - outline application with design, external appearance and access included.
* A E Harris - (See item in Trade Talk - Decision deferred).
109-138 Northwood Street/5-6 Graham Street. (INDUSTRIAL MIDDLE).
C/02602/06/CAC: Demolition of all existing buildings and structures on site except for the listed building at 109/111 Northwood Street.
C/02601/06/LBC: Mixed use development of land at Northwood Street including conversion of 109/111 Northwood Street to A3 restaurant use.
C/02600/06/OUT: Mixed use re-development of site to provide 9625 sqm of B1 floorspace (including 1639 sqm of affordable workspace), 8875 sqm residential floorspace (APPROXIMATELY 150 APARTMENTS), 1725 sqm retail floorspace, 462 sqm community uses and decked car park of 308 spaces including at least 90 spaces for public use.
C/02332/06/FUL - 85 Caroline Street - (St Paul’s) - Erection of building to provide 8 apartments and 523 sqm of commercial floor space, access and parking.
* C/02301/06/FUL - 50-60 Northwood Street. (INDUSTRIAL MIDDLE) - RESIDENTIAL development of 44 apartments and 32 parking spaces.
C/01426/06/FUL - 15-23 Augusta Street (GOLDEN TRIANGLE) - Alterations to ground floor parking, access and shop fronts. Partial demolition of existing building and construction of replacement wing to form new entrance and shop unit. Change of use of second floor and construction of third floor to form 64 room HOTEL.
* C/03371/04/CAC - 43/49 Northwood Street. (INDUSTRIAL MIDDLE). Demolition of existing office building 43/49 Northwood Street. Proposed to build 4 storey building containing 23 APARTMENTS and 4 commercial units. This building would be one storey higher than building next door.

[NickykciN]

Thanks for the info brum2003, interesting reading.

[U475 Foxtrot]

Remember the Reid designed building for 62 Caroline Street?



Looks like this is what going here instead.

[GrAfiK_248]

ehh!

[Engels]

Better. More appropriate to the area. It's still too large for the buildings around it though... however i'm not sure any modern building could have economically fitted in here so i guess i approve.


That said the other design was more interesting. Just way out of character for the area.

[Erebus555]

I think out of character buildings can work sometimes. Brutalist is a Victorian area doesn't but that one possible could have. Either way, I like both designs but the latter seems more ordinary and less original.

[Biosonic]

I hope it looks better in the flesh. For some reason, they tend to in the JQ.

I quite like the Reid design (not seen it before) but it does look like it has just dropped in from outer space, and not really appropriate.

If only we had that where Orion is...