Gun Quarter Projects: The Crown Works
If the Jewellery Quarter is the cool-kid, then the Gun Quarter is the dark sheep of the city. We take a look at the latest development to hit the Gun Quarter: The Crown Works. Recommended for approval on July 16th.
'THE CROWN WORKS'
Recommendation: Approval
Brought forward by Czero Developments, The Crown Works is a BTR (Build to Rent) development of 203 one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses designed for modern city living, in an up and coming area of Birmingham.
Historically, the Gun Quarter (aka St. George & St. Chad) was at the heart of the world’s gun-manufacturing industry, and whilst it still creates, nowadays the area is changing in character and density, with new industrial style apartments and student digs.
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Located on an unkempt stretch of Hanley Street/Lower Loveday Street, The Crown Works will deliver a sustainable new community that enhances the historic nature of the area, by providing a total of 91 one, 99 two and 13 three bedroom apartments - all exclusively for rent.
20 (10%) of the units are to be provided for low cost market rent at a 20% discount of market rent - comprising of 9 one bed & 11 two bedroom apartments.
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The development will range from 4-8 storeys tall and will comprise of shared landscaped gardens, public and private roof terraces, co-working spaces and two flexible ground floor commercial units.
It has been designed by London-based Claridge Architects – the architectural practice behind Timber Yard and Soho Loop.
Their design is contextual and has been formulated to offer a modern, enhanced interpretation of the area.
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://doc-00-1o-mymaps.googleusercontent.com/untrusted/hostedimage/l2prmhtfi218oh4la1jhhlm1c4/asa4dnb3cka73rerqbgql0jim4/1593615133500/zdAb_LlcKwoOI9kaiKhqLOlv_msa3Xtl/10963744766318076436/5AF2TALoxRG56FhFXSNmsqTlSHBEiGcwBGx8RzPyhiPTlXgo6dEMdOqkIA-ELgzVL_rs4RbgCi2h1MbVY2tR1wgPg92pT1CdHOClbCK64w6XbnWTIxcPkKEvaUaGyrfNVmirXSrFOMSQvVjQ58YqT1xSiTedXXt_-4ZYPLGNWLMRpLfwkBqWv6uhGDg1RGTFBcR49tthtKxY6PHpbWT3xOdkxbaCNKZo6G1B2b1q-NbEC_PrVphu2yJYTZKzh5HkvyxWZWMXxVvOSjuvliXkBpOQ3vqtAOBM32g?session=0&fife=s16383" />VIEWS: Looking up Summer Lane
All residents will have undiluted access to the facilities on offer, including: co-working space; an exercise studio; dining & meeting rooms; 970 sq.m of landscaped shared amenity space & a 290 sq.m landscaped roof garden.
19% of the apartments will profit from private amenity space.
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This is the site as we know it today:
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dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/GQgoogle.png" />Summer Lane: Google Street Maps
...and how it'll look;
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The above model shows the Summer Lane frontage, as well as the stepped down approach on Lower Loveday Street to the right.
The lower element has been designed to sympathetically reduce the impact on the locally listed building next door on Lower Loveday Street.
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/vvc.png" style="width: 100%;" />VIEWS: Lower Loveday Street looking towards Summer Lane
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dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://czero.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/brick-work-crown-works.jpg" />Here we see the massing increasing from 4 to 6 floors, before the tallest element reaches 8 storeys facing onto Summer Lane. The colour palette will be predominantly red/ brown brick tones.
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The below model showcases the Hanley Street block elevation; this is a distinct one in that it introduces pitched roof space, which breaks up the scale of the massing.
It’s been designed to provide a contemporary interpretation of the areas industrial grain.
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The pitched building will feature green/grey stock brick. This will go a long way to complimenting the red brick tones of the adjacent block. Decorative glazed ceramic spandrel panels will adorn the upper floors.
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QUICK GLANCE: FLOOR BY FLOOR
Lower ground floor:
The scheme provides two flexible commercial spaces, with uses set to be decided by user demand. Access into the site will be located on Summer Lane, but will come with secondary accesses on Hanley Street and Lower Loveday Street.
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Vehicular parking will be accessed off Hanley Street, where 29 cars, including 4 accessible spaces and electric charging points will be offered. 2 car parking spaces will be allocated for car sharing schemes. In addition, the proposal provides space for 11 motorcycles.
204 cycle parking spaces, with workshop space, will be included, and these will be split into two enclosed cycle stores.
Ground floor:
On the ground floor, residents are met with a double height reception lobby with concierge. Services here include a fitness studio, co-working and meeting/dining space, plus the landscaped courtyard.
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Upper floors:
Floors 1-5 of The Crown Works are fundamentally alike, with a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments.
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Sixth floor:
Here, the sixth floor offers duplex apartments and a fabulous array of private amenity space for those lucky enough to be occupying the upper floors.
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Roof terrace:
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2017 ISSUES AND THE INTRODUCTION OF ‘CAZ’
The development site encompasses the Birmingham City Council 'Clean Air Zone', which aims to improve air quality through discouraging polluting vehicles from entering the City Centre. This will likely come into play across the city from 2021.
Back in 2017, Xian Developments came forward with an outline application for the site: this was withdrawn, before bursting back onto the scene with a full planning application - this was refused at committee for noise related issues, with objections from nearby companies.
Fast-forward to today and whilst there is a chance residents could complain about noise, it is worth noting that rooms are now located to the quieter courtyard side - making this application vastly different from the 2017 one.
The adjacent factory supplies parts to Jaguar Land Rover; they have now decided to relocate, thus potentially eliminating any obstacle. The factory will linger, however, but with no tenant.
‘CAZ’ is coming into effect: will companies want to pay £50 a day to drive a HGV into the City Centre?
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The Crown Works goes to Planning Committee on July 16th at 11am.