Great news for current and prospective students in Birmingham! Property consultant Knight Frank’s planning team has just announced the approval of an 836-bed PBSA from the city council after the former Sainsbury's site has been vacant for five years. This will bring more life to the vibrant and popular Selly Oak area, which is already popular among students. The Selly Oak site has been acquired by developer The Galliard Apsley Partnership.

This project will be established on the former 1 Chapel Lane, Sainsbury’s site, and will feature two blocks encompassing 364 cluster flats and 472 studios. That’s not all, as the PBSA will also feature a large commercial area located on the ground floor, covering 13,688 sq ft, and a medical facility, covering 13,374 sq ft, both of which provide great benefits to society. 

Robert Mitchell, a partner and part of Knight Frank’s planning team, joyfully announced: “This is a fantastic outcome on a high-profile project that will deliver wide-ranging regeneration benefits. Knight Frank has been working on this site, having been appointed in April 2023. Since then, we have worked tirelessly, alongside our client and the wider professional team, to secure planning approval, overcoming previous issues that resulted in refusal prior to our involvement.”

The PBSA is set to have various great facilities, some of which include lounges, a gym, a study area, and a cinema. It was designed by the renowned architects Corstorphine & Wright.

The PBSA is also highly sustainable, as Richard Jenkins, the Head of Sustainability & Urban Development at Galliard Homes, stated: “Corstorphine & Wright is proud to be a part of this fantastic project, and we are thrilled to have received planning permission. After extensive public consultation and a collaborative design process, this scheme will reactivate this underutilised site, redefine the High Street, and create new public spaces. It will provide much-needed student accommodation in a sustainable location that prioritises the well-being of its residents.  

We look forward to seeing this scheme move forward and progress. Congratulations to the whole team involved.”

This new venture is set to breathe new life into the area, bringing a fresh spirit and vitality. This is a testament to the successful collaboration between Apsley House Capital and Galliard Homes, who have already contributed significantly to the city's growth, delivering over 2,000 new homes in the past six years.