A total of 30 apartments could replace a workshop on Lombard Street. Credit: JVBJ Architects

Flats plan for Birmingham storage warehouse

4 November 2026 13:45 Mike Sheridan Comments ()

A total of 28 apartments could be built in place of a demolished Digbeth business, under plans lodged with Birmingham City Council.

Proposals put forward by landowners Admiral Asset Management earlier this year would see a storage warehouse on the corner of Cheapside and Lombard Street knocked down, set to make way for a six-storey residential block.

The JVBJ-designed scheme also includes a first-floor gym and a convenience store at street level.

According to the architect, plans to refurbish the existing building were ruled out due to “significant” issues with tall ceilings and apartment sizes, along with the extra cost of removing several radio antennas from the roof.

“These spaces would cost more to heat, contributing to high energy bills,” said a planning statement submitted with the scheme,

“Significant alterations would be required to retain the existing building and there would be costly expense towards removing the radio antennas at roof level.

“The proposed six-storey scale takes its cue directly from the existing six-storey residential apartment block opposite the site, ensuring the development is proportionate to, and consistent with, the height and grain already established on this part of Cheapside, and accords with the scale identified for neighbouring sites in the Rea Valley Urban Quarter SPD.”

Farrow Walsh completed flooding and draining consultancy for the project, AB Heritage provided heritage statements. ARBTech provided land contamination reporting.