Motorcycle hub revved up for resi conversion

Birmingham planners are set to give the nod to the residential redevelopment of a former motorcycle shop. If consented the plans will see a 17,000 sq ft retail warehouse in the Digbeth area of Birmingham transformed into a £42.5m residential development comprising 136 flats. The site extends to 0.76 acres and vacant possession has been secured. Croft Development, which is bringing forward the project, said it would revitalise an abandoned site to “provide new residential accommodation fit for purpose and which connects its existing heritage assets to the wider development strategy of the area”. The site is located in the south easterly leg of the Digbeth, Deritend and Bordesley High Streets Conservation Area and is close to the locally listed former Barclays Bank at 123 High Street. Conservation officers at Birmingham City Council said they were keen to see the area transformed and that the site currently made “a negative contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area and to the setting of nearby heritage assets”. Digbeth is undergoing a major transformation in Birmingham, with schemes such as Sama’s Garrison Circus scheme, the Tea Factory and Custard Factory all delivering new commercial and residential development in the area. Image © Leonard Design Architects