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The Village Inn on Alcester Road has been given permission to go ahead with plans for a three-storey hotel with 41 bedrooms. It’s set to be built at the back of the existing pub and served by 18 parking spaces. The plans were supported by The Moseley Society and ward councillor Izzy Knowles but 28 third-party objections were received amid concerns over issues such as parking and the visual impact. Speaking at the meeting, the agent for the applicant said: “The hospitality trade is tough. “Even before Covid and the cost-of-living rises, pubs were closing every day. “Having hotel bedrooms on site provides an additional revenue stream.” “There’s no other hotel offer within Moseley and there’s a clear demand for hotel accommodation,” she added. “This would support other businesses and events such as the Moseley Folk Festival.” The committee ultimately voted to approve the plans, with Coun Lee Marsham saying they would “enhance” the Moseley area. A council report, published ahead of the meeting, said the proposals followed a previously-refused application with a number of alterations. They included the width of the building being reduced at ground level; a smaller function space; and the number of bedrooms being reduced from 47 to 41. The report continued that the more recent plans would bring numerous benefits to the south Birmingham suburb. “Most significantly, the provision of hotel accommodation in proximity of the Moseley train station under construction would have a positive impact on the visitor economy,” it said. “The proposed hotel would improve the viability of The Village Inn, helping to secure the long-term use of this non designated heritage asset and prevent its disuse.” “Other immediate benefits would include the jobs provided throughout the construction phase of development and the hospitality jobs during the hotel’s operation,” it added. But the report acknowledged “some less than substantial harm” to the Conservation Area had been identified. “These tangible public benefits are considered to significantly outweigh this minor harm,” it concluded however. “Other concerns raised […] can be dealt with by planning conditions without affecting the planning balance.” Addressing particular issues, the report said the previous application was refused on the basis that the “size, scale and massing of the proposed building would have […] dominated the setting of the Village Inn building”. “However, the current proposal is significantly different from the refused scheme,” it noted. “It is considered that these issues have been sufficiently mitigated to the extent that they are outweighed by the public benefits of the development.” The report also said: “It is not considered that the proposal would contribute to any local parking issues.”
