50 Severn Street, a new residential development that occupies a prime Birmingham city centre location, has been approved by Birmingham City Council. The development of seven and ten storeys will house 30 residential units and include a commercial unit on the ground floor for office or retail use.

It sits within an area containing a wide-range of building types and uses. The site faces the prestigious Mailbox development including high-end retail, leisure, commercial and residential units. The site offers excellent connections to New Street Station, a short walk away. The corner of the block facing Suffolk Street Queensway and Mailbox Square, is marked by Queensgate, a 1950s office building.

The three listed buildings in proximity to the site include the Grade II listed Athol Masonic Hall at 60 Severn Street. Further to the west at 86 Severn Street is the Caretaker’s House of Birmingham Athletic Institute which is Grade II listed (1860). To the southwest of the site and within the same development block is Singers Hill Synagogue which was built in 1856 and is Grade II* listed. The early period buildings in the grouping are predominantly red brick buildings with stone detailing and classical features. In light of this, a separate Built Heritage Statement has been undertaken and was included within the Planning Application.

A statement from Birmingham City Council said:

“The existing city centre site is underused and currently provides a poor frontage to Severn Street.

The heritage assets within the surrounding block are acknowledged, the impact upon the street scene considered and the harm to the heritage assets, most notably the adjacent listed Masonic Hall and Caretakers House facing Severn Street, has been assessed.

“The proposed development would have less than substantial harm to the setting of the listed buildings whilst it is considered that the proposed design would appropriately fill the gap between Queensgate House and the Masonic Lodge and uplift the street scene.”