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Fuse Studios has been given the green light for a 37-storey build-to-rent tower in Birmingham next to a row of grade II-listed villas described by Historic England as 鈥渞are and significant鈥�.

The 462-home proposals on the edge of the city centre have been designed for Calthorpe Estates and Moda Living and will form part of the 1,600-home New Garden Square masterplan.

The scheme had been recommended by approval by planning officers ahead of a council meeting late last week despite an objection from Historic England over its impact on several neighbouring early Victorian buildings.

Though not located in a conservation area, the tower would sit directly opposite 71-79 Francis Road, a group of two-storey, stucco rendered villas dating to around 1840.

It would also neighbour another row of listed townhouses on Hagley Road dating to the early 19th century.

Historic England has judged the level of harm the tower would cause to the listed buildings to be at the 鈥渦pper end of the scale鈥� for less than substantial harm.

The heritage advisor said the proposals would 鈥渞ise overwhelmingly above the characteristic building heights of the listed buildings on Francis and Hagley Roads鈥�.

It added: 鈥淭he design and scale of the proposed development does not respond to the site鈥檚 historic context, particularly the rare and significant runs and terraces of adjacent listed buildings and fails to respond to the townscape character and composition of the local area.鈥�

However, Birmingham council鈥檚 planning officer concluded that the perceived heritage impact of the tower was acceptable because of the harm already done to the listed buildings by modern extensions and new developments in the surrounding area.

The report concluded that the public benefits of the scheme鈥檚 provision of new homes outweighed any heritage harm.

The project team also includes project manager RPS, planning consultant CBRE, quantity surveyor Gardiner & Theobald, civil and structural engineer Curtins, mechanical and electrical engineer Tate Consulting, and landscape architect Oobe.

The site is opposite the new Edgbaston Village terminus of the Midland Metro tram network and a stone鈥檚 throw from the Broad Street entertainment area, where Glen Howells Architects in 2022.

Howells 鈥� as the practice is now known 鈥� . Glancy Nicholls was subsequently brought onto the project.