Plans for a major canalside housing development in Birmingham have been approved.
Joint venture partners Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital have won the city's backing to build 650 apartments and 102 townhouses at the Soho Wharf site next to the Birmingham Main Line Canal in Ladywood.
The decision paves the way for the £165 million regeneration scheme which is called 'Soho Wharf' and will also have more than 10,000 sq ft of commercial space and new public realm.
There will be new pedestrian, cycle and vehicle routes to enable public access through the site and a canal bridge to connect the area with the existing towpath to provide a direct route into the city centre.
Existing buildings on the site will be demolished to make way for the project on 11.7 acres of land off Dudley Road, which neighbours the new Port Loop project.
Soho Wharf has been designed and master-planned by Claridge Architects which also worked with the joint venture partnership on its Timber Yard development near the city's Hippodrome theatre.
Stephen Conway, executive chairman of Galliard Homes, said: "Our vision for Soho Wharf is to deliver a residential-led, mixed-use scheme that will be truly transformative for Birmingham. We are pleased the council shares our vision for the site.
"The approved scheme forms part of the Greater Icknield Masterplan, the largest brownfield housing-led redevelopment framework within Birmingham and is therefore strategically important for the long-term regeneration of the area, which is already undergoing major change.
"Soho Wharf is the next big development opportunity and, with planning now in place, we're excited to be bringing the project forward and helping the council achieve its ambition of creating more homes and attractive places to live for the people of Birmingham."
Historically, the site was partially occupied by a large glasshouse in the late 18th century and was known as Park Glass House.
The building was constructed by local glasscutter Isaac Hawker to store and transport his glass products along the canal.
The glassworks was demolished in the 1870s and replaced by silverworks.
As part of Birmingham's expansion throughout the 19th and 20th century, the site and surrounding area were redeveloped with various industrial and residential properties.
Robin Norstrom, director of Apsley House Capital, said: "Throughout history, the site has played an important part in the development of the city, through the provision of jobs at the factories and the homes that once occupied the site.
"Soho Wharf will be the start of a new chapter, bringing the site back to life and enhancing the local area with a design-led urban scheme that provides a mix of homes, commercial space, amenities and public realm."
Work on Soho Wharf is expected to start immediately.
