Plans submitted for new urban village in Birmingham

Plans have been submitted for 600 homes in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. The £80m scheme will regenerate a six acre vacant site and former industrial works, and will be one of the largest residential developments the city centre area has seen in over a decade.

BDP designed the proposals for St George's Urban Village for developer Seven Capital on the site adjacent to the historic Kettleworks building. By introducing an extension to Tenby Street North across the site, the village will be better connected to the centre of the Jewellery Quarter. Two new urban blocks are generated by this new public street, creating a residential arrangement around three courtyards.

The design respects the characteristics of the Conservation Area, reinterpreting streetscape detail that reflects street hierarchy and gives emphasis to corners and entrances in a contemporary manner. To sit comfortably in mass and scaling with its neighbours and give future residents greater identity, the design creates five distinctive new buildings, rather than a homogeneous scheme.

In providing a range of apartment and town house sizes, and with a variety of external private and shared space, the development aims to attract a sustainable social mix of residents that will help to activate this upcoming area of the city.

Dan Smyth, director of architecture, said: "St George’s Urban Village adds life and improves permeability of this rapidly changing area of the Jewellery Quarter. It is a very interesting fine grained design by a developer with a reputation for delivery in Birmingham."

Work could start as early as this summer if planning approval is granted.