623 Kingstanding Road, Kingstanding
Lapworth Architects were appointed by NPS Contractors and Ashlee Homes, two Walsall based developers, to design a residential scheme at 623 Kingstanding Road in north Birmingham. The plot sits behind the Kingstanding Road parade within the wider Kingstanding Circle area and had been empty for several years following the removal of a former community centre. It is enclosed by service yards, long rear gardens and local open space, so the design needed to work with the suburban setting while making productive use of brownfield land.
The brief was for a clear, efficient layout that could deliver new homes without overwhelming the surrounding streets. A single apartment building is placed at the centre of the 0.35 hectare site, arranged as twelve one bedroom homes and eighteen two bedroom homes across three storeys. The height follows the roof lines of neighbouring houses and avoids competing with the commercial frontage nearer the main road. Brick and render are used in vertical elements to manage massing and give the building a steady rhythm, helping it sit comfortably beside the recreation ground and nearby gardens.
Access uses the established service route off Kingstanding Road. Inside the site, the layout provides a simple movement pattern with a turning head, footpaths around the building and secure parking for forty six vehicles. Around nine hundred square metres of shared amenity space sits to the north and east. This maintains separation distances to nearby properties, keeps the boundary planting, and remains consistent with the spacing guidance in Places for Living and with the pattern of plots across Kingstanding, Perry Common and Great Barr.
Planning work focused on the site constraints and the technical coordination needed for a brownfield plot. Ecology, tree retention, drainage, noise and contamination were all reviewed and resolved through the submission. The council noted that the height matched the nearby roofscape, that the layout improved natural surveillance of the open space, and that the internal areas met national space standards. Affordable housing was secured through a financial contribution following an independent viability review.
The submission was prepared through our usual digital workflow, including the use of UK Planning Gateway for version control, document naming and coordinated uploads, which helps reduce unnecessary queries during validation.
For developers searching for architects in Birmingham or architects in Kingstanding, the project is a clear example of how enclosed brownfield sites can be brought back into use with the right massing, careful coordination and a design that respects suburban character while adding to local housing supply.
