Green Light For Star City Industrial Facility

An application proposing the construction of a job-creating industrial unit on land forming part of an established family leisure complex in Birmingham has been green lit.

Quadrant Estates sought planning permission to develop a facility extending to approximately 98,000 sq ft at Star City, Watson Road.

Star City was built in the year 2000 and features restaurants, 25-screen cinema, bowling and other ‘physical’ and leisure activities.

In order to accommodate the industrial unit, the existing McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant; units 18, 19, 20 and 21; part of Unit 17; and part of the existing multi-storey car park will be demolished. The remaining floorspace at ground floor of units 16 and 17 will be reconfigured and extended to create a single retail/leisure unit.

The project is forecast to create between 115 and 258 FTE jobs during the operational phase, following roles during its construction.

A statement submitted on behalf of the applicant with Birmingham City Council – whose planning committee met on 6 April – said: “The proposals seek to create a high-quality, modern industrial and logistics development that will be attractive to prospective occupiers which will contribute significantly towards one of the council’s key priorities of creating local employment opportunities.

“Moreover, the development will reinvigorate an underutilised part of a popular leisure asset in Birmingham, future proofing its use.”

A report for the committee added: “The application delivers local plan policy compliant sustainable development, securing additional employment land in the city, making use of existing underutilised brownfield site.”

Members voted to approve the scheme, subject to conditions.