HARRIS LAMB SECURES PLANNING PERMISSION TO CONVERT HISTORIC BIRMINGHAM BUILDING INTO STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

Harris Lamb’s team of planning consultants have achieved planning permission to convert an historic building in the heart of Colmore Business District into student accommodation.

The Grade II* Listed Building, 89-91 Cornwall Street, will be transformed into 26 studio flats following a unanimous vote in favour of the planning and listed building applications for its conversion from councillors last week.

The business was acting on behalf of owner Baljit Bhandal, who bought the building in 2008. Mr Bhandal has worked with Shropshire-based architects Arrol & Snell to devise the project.

Sam Silcocks, of Harris Lamb Planning Consultancy, said: “This is a great result, both for us and developers, and the city’s huge student population.

“The site has such a great location, being close to the University College Birmingham campus based around Newhall Street and Summer Row and a short walk to both Aston University and Birmingham City University.

“It is a great thing to see such a significant historical building in the heart of the city being given a new lease of life rather than sitting vacant, which it has done for the past eight years. The conversion to student accommodation kept the requirement for internal alterations to a minimum, thereby securing a sensitive conversion. This being particularly important given the Grade II* Status of the building that only a very small percentage of Listed Buildings achieve.”

Conversion work on the four-storey building will begin immediately, with the owner aiming to have the project completed by September 2017 in readiness for the next academic year.

Sam added: “This decision is a result of the team’s on-going negotiations with the Council and will bring this important heritage asset back into active use, thereby preserving its significance for years to come.”