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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Vow over Sparkbrook tram depot renovation despite council rejection

Made Architecture plans to push ahead with major regeneration project after city planners knock it back due to issues over parking and the loss of industrial buildings

CGI of the proposal for the old tram depot which city planners rejected

Plans to renovate a former tram depot in will be brought forward again despite being rejected by city councillors over a lack of parking.

The project would have seen the wholesale renovation of the 102-year-old building in Highgate Road to create a restaurant, banqueting hall and three-storey car park providing 160 spaces.

Members of the city council's planning committee and knocked back the project on the grounds of vehicular access and parking, its affect on neighbouring residences and the loss of adjoining industrial premises.

But Naveed Ahmed, managing director at Made Architecture which lodged the application on behalf of an unnamed developer, told the Post this was not the end of the road for the scheme and a new application would be lodged which addressed these concerns.

"It was all rather unfortunate as we started the pre-application process in November and there wasn't anyone from the highways attending these meetings," he said.

"Planning officers from the council have been sincere and supportive throughout the project and still are supportive of redevelopment in principle.

"But we had no inkling of the concerns that highways were going to raise because they were not raised early enough. We didn't hear about them

He added: "The developer already runs similar ventures in Manchester, London and Bristol alongside sites in Dubai and the Indian sub-continent and is being supported by an international investor.