Residents have failed in their bid to stop a ‘world class’ student hall development which they claim will harm the character of the quiet suburban road.
Birmingham’s planning committee approved the conversion of the historic Beechenhurst House on leafy Serpentine Road in Selly Park.
But residents had complained that with the students would double the population of the quiet road, dominated by detached family houses, and lead to a clash of lifestyles.
They also warned that the conversion and extension of the former home of renowned social reformer John Sutton Nettlefold and his wife Margaret could harm a piece of Birmingham’s history.
Resident Stuart Buchanan said: “This is a quiet residential road with 20 family homes. 60 people will more than double the population.”
He added that the area does not need any more student accommodation.
But Alan Tyler, speaking on behalf of developer Five Oaks Green, said that this will be a high quality student complex, comparable with a boutique hotel, and unlike anything else available in the city.
“The best in Birmingham right now is very average. This will be a first class site for a first class city,” he said.
Planning committee members asked why the Victorian home had not been listed, but were told that conservationists and English Heritage had looked at it and not thought it worth listing.
Coun Gareth Moore (Con Erdington) said: “I don’t see why there needs to be any extension of the home. This is ruining the character of a conservation area.”
But the majority of the planning committee decided that this is a unique type of student block and would be a benefit to the city. They voted by six to two in favour.
