A protesting campaign has been launched against plans to develop a new 30-story building close to the city centre.
Residents and workers based in Digbeth have raised their concerns against the proposal of a 928-home Stone Yard Development. Locals argue that the casting shadow of the construction project will give the area an unwelcoming and gloomy feel. It will also likely drive out creatives and tourism from the area.
Digbeth is home to a number of business and attractions, and a lively hub for young people and students. It is currently the site of two of South and City College’s innovative campuses, the Custard Factory, Ghetto Golf UK, Digbeth Dining Club and a number of eateries and takeaways.
The mixed-use scheme which is currently being speculated would mean new outlets and homes being constructed on the Bullring Trading Estate as well. In addition to accommodation, six-storey buildings would also be constructed to be used as potential retail or leisure space.
Campaigners state that the new designs are poorly planned and have been drawn-up after little to no consultation with the area’s surrounding inhabitants. They also said that the proposals lack affordable housing and parking space, and will overshadow Digbeth’s prominence night-time venues.
Protestors are in favour of investments being made to improve sustainability and income in Digbeth. However, they state new construction plans should be created to appropriate design and scale.
Mr Gray, ex-owner of The Custard Factory and current owner of Devonshire house in Digbeth, is one of the people who are strongly against the scheme. He said: “It would be such a tragedy if all of the interest and energy and creativity and the unpredictability and the texture which has been generated by the Custard Factory and other people in Digbeth over the last 20 years, were to be allowed to turn into just a corporate business with spiralling, soaring land values, as a result of which the people who created the interest in the first place are going to be edged out.”
By Manisha Bhanot
