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Proposals for a major canalside scheme – which would put a dent in Birmingham’s housing shortage – have been given the green light.

Soho Loop, on the old BCN Main Line canal, aims to transform 12 acres of land near City Hospital with 504 new homes, shops, a gym and a new cycle bridge.

The proposals were warmly welcomed by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee as a housing boost which could kickstart other key schemes like nearby Icknield Port Loop.

Birmingham is in dire need of housing, with an anticipated 80,000 homes needed by 2031 – but likely only the land for little more than 50,000.

City and Provincial Properties’ (CPP) Soho Loop scheme will see a host of vacant Victorian buildings, including the former Birmingham Arms pub, razed to the ground to make space.

Coun Peter Griffiths (Lab, Kings Norton) said he hoped it would lead to schemes like Icknield Port Loop coming to fruition.

He said: “It is particularly good to see the private sector latching on to our own development in the public sector.”

(Image: Pic: SR Davis Architects)

Coun Peter Douglas Osborn (Con, Weoley), who lives near the site, said “This has been going on for quite a number of years.

“It’s a very pleasant looking development,” he added. “I hope it’s going to look as good as the pictures show.”

Plans include 65 affordable dwellings, as well as a large data centre to house telecommunications and digital storage systems.

The remainder of homes will be retained for long-term rental, rather than being sold on, which CPP said was in demand in the city.

The work would see a mixture of Victorian industrial buildings, along with a large chimney stack, knocked down.

That will open up about 325,608 sq ft of floorspace across six main development plots, with three blocks fronting Dudley Road.

(Image: Pic: SR Davis Architects)

The proposals are for 57 city pads, 164 one-bedroom apartments, 256 with two bedrooms and 37 with three.

There will also be 11,409 sq ft of retail space across four units – which could also be bars or restaurants, as well as a 5,866 sq ft gym fronting on to Dudley Road.

CPP also proposes 456 car parking spaces.

The plans say the 80,000 sq ft data centre, housing telecommunications, and digital storage systems, would be hidden to the rear of the scheme.

The bordering Greater Icknield Masterplan, part of the draft Birmingham Development Plan, last year outlined plans for 3,000 new homes and 1,000 new jobs there.

SR Davis Architects, which drew up the plans, said the project would bring a “redundant site into productive use”.

The planning statement states: “The site’s strategic importance within the chain of identified redevelopment opportunities is recognised within the Greater Icknield Masterplan, especially in its potential to provide pedestrian and cycling linkages between key development areas.

“As such, this site is a great opportunity for investment and regeneration.”